Buffalo Sabres – New York Islanders Game Preview
12/23/24 – 7:00 pm EST at UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Record
Buffalo – 11-19-4 | 26 points – 8th place in the Atlantic Division
NY Islanders – 13-14-7 | 33 points – 7th place in the Metropolitan Division
Special Teams
Buffalo
Power Play – 14.1% (30th)
Penalty Kill – 76.8% (24th)
NY Islanders
Power Play – 12.1% (32nd)
Penalty Kill – 64.3% (32nd)
Top Scorers
Buffalo
Tage Thompson: 29 GP, 16 G, 9 A, 25 PTS
Alex Tuch: 34 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 PTS
JJ Peterka: 32 GP, 10 G, 14 A, 24 PTS
NY Islanders
Anders Lee: 34 GP, 13 G, 14 A, 27 PTS
Bo Horvat: 33 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 PTS
Kyle Palmieri: 34 GP, 11 G, 13 A, 24 PTS
Starting Goalies
Buffalo – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (8-11-3, 3.12 GAA, .892 save %)
NY Islanders – Ilya Sorokin (10-10-4, 2.82 GAA, .903 save %)
Line Combinations and Pairings
Buffalo
Forwards
Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka - Dylan Cozens - Jack Quinn
Peyton Krebs - Jiri Kulich - Zach Benson
Beck Malenstyn - Ryan McLeod - Sam Lafferty
Ex. Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin - Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson - Owen Power
Jacob Bryson - Connor Clifton
Ex., Henri Jokiharju, Dennis Gilbert
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
James Reimer
Injuries
Jordan Greenway (IR - middle body)
Notes
In his last six games, JJ Peterka has recorded seven points (2+5), including at least one in each of his last four games. A point in tonight’s game would give Peterka the third point streak of five or more games in his career, and his second of the season. Peterka recorded a six-game point streak from Nov. 5 to 16 (3+5), the longest point streak of his career.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen possesses a save percentage of .942 (81 saves on 86 shots) and a goals-against average of 1.69 in three career games against the Islanders. In his last start against New York on March 14, 2024, Luukkonen registered a 21-save shutout.
Owen Power has notched three points (1+2) in his last three games. Power has also recorded three points (1+2) in his last three games against New York.
Dylan Cozens has scored three goals in his last four games against the Islanders.
Zach Benson is expected to play in the 100th game of his NHL career tonight.
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