Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins Game Preview
12/21/24 – 7:00 pm EST at TD Garden, Boston, Mass
Record
Buffalo – 11-18-4 | 26 points – 8th place in the Atlantic Division
Boston – 17-13-4 | 38 points – 4th place in the Atlantic Division
Special Teams
Buffalo
Power Play – 13.5% (30th)
Penalty Kill – 77.1% (23rd)
Boston
Power Play – 12.7% (31st)
Penalty Kill – 77.9% (21st)
Top Scorers
Buffalo
Tage Thompson: 28 GP, 16 G, 9 A, 25 PTS
Alex Tuch: 33 GP, 9 G, 16 A, 25 PTS
JJ Peterka: 31 GP, 9 G, 14 A, 23 PTS
Boston
David Pastrnak: 34 GP, 12 G, 21 A, 33 PTS
Brad Marchand: 34 GP, 13 G, 13 A, 26 PTS
Elias Lindholm: 34 GP, 5 G, 12 A, 17 PTS
Starting Goalies
Buffalo – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (8-11-3, 3.12 GAA, .892 save %)
Boston – Jeremy Swayman (11-10-3, 3.13 GAA, .887 save %)
Line Combinations and Pairings (projected)
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
Dennis Gilbert - Connor Clifton
Ex. Jacob Bryson, Henri Jokiharju
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
James Reimer
Injuries
Jordan Greenway (out-middle body)
Notes
Buffalo’s 128 victories over Boston all-time are the second-most against any single team in franchise history. The Sabres have only defeated the Montreal Canadiens (136) more times than they have beaten the Bruins. The Sabres have defeated the Bruins in two of their last three road contests in Boston.
Owen Power has notched at least one point in back-to-back games (1+2). Power would record his fourth-point streak of three or more games this season with a point in tonight’s game.
In his last five games, JJ Peterka has recorded six points (1+5), including at least one in each of his last three games. A point in tonight’s game would give Peterka the seventh point streak of four or more games in his career. Peterka has recorded one point in back-to-back road contests in Boston (1+1).
Dylan Cozens has recorded one point in back-to-back games (1+1).
Alex Tuch has registered six points (3+3) in his last three road games against the Bruins.
In his last three road games against the Bruins, Dylan Cozens has posted three points (1+2).
In 27 career games against Boston, James Reimer has registered a .925 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average. Reimer possesses a save percentage of .918 and a goals-against average of 2.89 in 14 road appearances against the Bruins.
Bowen Byram is expected to play against Boston for the first time in his career tonight. Boston is the only active team that Byram has not yet faced in his career.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo