The Buffalo Sabres got the short end of the stick to begin their 2023-24 regular season, facing an experienced New York Rangers in their home opener on Thursday and their first game on the road against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday.
Both Big Apple clubs have a lot to prove after disappointing first-round losses to New Jersey and Carolina last season, and have what many consider two of the top goalies in the NHL in 2022 Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin and 2023 Vezina finalist Ilya Sorokin.
Unlike the Rangers, the Isles made very few roster changes in the offseason, opting to lock up Sorokin, forward Pierre Engvall, and defenseman Scott Mayfield on long-term extensions. New York poses similar problems as their cross-town rivals, allowing only 222 goals against last season (4th in the NHL), but do not have the Rangers offensive firepower.
"We get to go against a real stingy, strong defensive group and it's a challenge that we need to address to go after." Sabres head coach Don Granato said on Friday. "You want to attack before a team gets in structure and when they're in their structure, you want to do things to get them out of their structure."
The Sabres held an optional skate in New York on Saturday, and are not expected to be any lineup changes.
Rookie Devon Levi will get his second start in goal for Buffalo.
Leading up the start of the season, Granato indicated that did he did not have a plotted-out schedule for his goaltenders. With days off in between their first six games and the next four at home, it is conceivable that the 21-year-old could make every start, but that would risk Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen getting rusty after more than two weeks of not seeing live action.