The New York Islanders (0-0-0) kick off their 2023-24 season as they host the Buffalo Sabres (0-1-0) Saturday night.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders (0-0-0) kick off their 2023-24 season as they host the Buffalo Sabres (0-1-0) Saturday night.
Puck drop is slated for 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena.
The Islanders have been waiting eight days to get their season started while the Sabres lost their season opener Thursday night, a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers.
"It's been a while," Islanders forward Mathew Barzal said. "Seems like it's been forever since Game Six. So we're excited."
MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Ilya Sorokin was in the starter's crease and was the first goalie off, as he will start for the Islanders.
Forwards Julien Gauthier and Oliver Wahlstrom, along with defenseman Samuel Bolduc were extras.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINES (PROJECTED)
Mathew Barzal-Bo Horvat-Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech-Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Sebastian Aho-Scott Mayfield
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
BUFFALO SABRES LINES (PROJECTED)
Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch
J.J. Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Viktor Olofsson
Jordan Greenway – Cody Mittelstadt – Zach Benson
Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Erik Johnson – Connor Clifton
Dylan Levi
Eric Comrie
Lineup per NHL.com correspondent @engelheather
ISLANDERS NOTES
Tonight, the New York Islanders host the Buffalo Sabres in the first of three meetings between the two clubs this season, the Islanders' first game of the 2023-24 regular season and home opener at UBS Arena. The last time these teams met was March 25, 2023, at UBS Arena.
It is the first time in franchise history that the Islanders host the Sabres on opening night. The Islanders enter tonight's matchup with an 11-1-0 record on home ice against the Sabres dating back to the 2016-17 campaign.
MGM BETTING CORNER
Do you think the New York Islanders will beat the Buffalo Sabres? You can get the Islanders at -145 & +180 on the puck line. The Sabres come in at +120 & -225 on the reverse puck line.
The over for the contest is 6.5 at -+100, with the under at -120.
Lines courtesy of MGM.
HOW TO WATCH
Saturday's contest will be available on MSGSN. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU, and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.