OTP - The Sabres Consistent Inconsistency 12/9/24 – 7:00 pm EST at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY Record Buffalo – 11-13-3 | 25 points – 6th place in the Atlantic Division Detroit – 10-13-4 | 24 points – 7th place in the Atlantic Division Special Teams Buffalo Power Play – 14.8% (30th) Penalty Kill – 80.2% (13th) Detroit Power Play – 26.6% (6th) Penalty Kill – 66.7% (31st) Top Scorers Buffalo Alex Tuch: 27 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 PTS Tage Thompson: 22 GP, 14 G, 7 A, 21 PTS Rasmus Dahlin: 25 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 PTS Detroit Lucas Raymond: 27 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 PTS Alex DeBrincat: 27 GP, 11 G, 11 A, 22 PTS Dylan Larkin: 27 GP, 12 G, 9 A, 21 PTS Starting Goalies Buffalo – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (8-7-3, 2.82 GAA, .902 save %) Detroit – Ville Husso (0-4-2, 3.39 GAA, .884 save %) Line Combinations and Pairings (projected) Buffalo Forwards Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch Zach Benson - Ryan McLeod - Jason Zucker JJ Peterka - Jiri Kulich - Dylan Cozens Beck Malenstyn - Tyson Kozak - Nicolas Aube-Kubel Ex. Jack Quinn Defense Ryan Johnson - Bowen Byram Owen Power - Henri Jokiharju Jacob Bryson - Connor Clifton Ex. Dennis Gilbert, Mattias Samuelsson Goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen James Reimer Injuries Rasmus Dahlin (day-to-day – back spasms) Sam Lafferty (day-to-day – lower body) Notes The Sabres have earned at least one point in 10 of their last 11 home games against the Red Wings (6-1-4). Buffalo has scored five or more goals in four of the team’s last five games at home against Detroit. Buffalo has allowed just three powerplay goals in the team’s last 28 penalty kill opportunities (89.3 percent). Tage Thompson has registered 15 points (10+5) in his last 13 home games. Thompson has registered 18 points (8+10) in his last 11 games against the Red Wings. Alex Tuch has recorded 12 points (4+8) in his last 12 games. Zach Benson has recorded four assists in his last four home contests. In his last 10 games against Detroit, Dylan Cozens has notched 10 points (5+5). Devon Levi was named AHL Third Star of the Night on Saturday, Dec. 7 after posting a 30-save shutout and picking up an assist in a 3-0 Amerks victory over the Charlotte Checkers. Levi has allowed just four goals in his last four games with Rochester, including two shutouts (Nov. 29 vs. Syracuse; Dec. 7 at Charlotte). In that span, Levi has made 84 saves on 88 shots (.955). Levi is tied for third among all AHL goaltenders in shutouts this season with two. In 33 career games with Rochester, Levi has posted a save percentage of .926 and a goals-against average of 2.32. Levi has registered a save percentage of .923 and a goals-against average of 2.57 in five playoff games with the Amerks. Levi possesses a 5-1-1 record, a save percentage of .917 and a goals-against average of 1.96 with Rochester this season. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo]
