NHL Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders with Line Combinations 12/23/2024

Buffalo Sabres (11-19-4, 26 Points) at New York Islanders (13-14-7, 33 Points) 

Venue: USB Arena
Date: Monday, December 23
Time: 7:30 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/MSG-B/MSGSN
Radio:
Buffalo – 550 WGR
Islanders – WRHU 88.7 FM / 103.9 FM LI News Radio

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Buffalo +1.5 ML +130
Islanders -1.5 ML -155
O/U 5.5

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Buffalo Sabres News & Notes:

The Sabres come into tonight’s game looking to snap their 13-game losing streak, they are 0-10-3 in that span and have been outscored 54-28. They most recently lost on Saturday to the Boston Bruins 3-1. Buffalo currently ranks at the bottom of the league in power play, penalty kill, goals per game, goals against per game, and faceoff percentage.

New York Islanders News & Notes:

The Islanders snapped a two-game skid with a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. New York is currently 4-4-1 in December. They are currently last in the NHL in power play percentage and penalty kill but rank first in face-off percentage.

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines

Zucker-Thompson-Tuch
Peterka-Cozens- Krebs
Benson-Kulich-Lafferty
Malenstyn-McLeod-Aube-Kubel
Jokiharju-Byram
Samuelsson-Power
Bryson-Clifton

Luukkonen
Reimer

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New York Islanders Projected Lines:

Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri
Tsyplakov-Horvat-Holmstrom
Lee-Barzal-Pageau
MacLean-Cizikis-Fasching
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulockm
George-Mayfield

Sorokin
Hogberg

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Players To Watch:

Buffalo Sabres

Jason Zucker this season has 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. He’s faced the Islanders 24 times in his career recording 13 points on eight goals and five assists; between the two previous matchups this season he has two points on a goal and an assist.

New York Islanders

Simon Holmstrom this season has 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists. He’s faced Buffalo six times in his career recording three points on two goals and an assist; all three of those points came this season between the two previous meetings.

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres

LW Jordan Greenway – IR
D Rasmus Dahlin – Out

New York Islanders

D Mike Reilly – IR
G Semyon Varlamov – IR

Next Up

Buffalo: December 27 vs Chicago Blackhawks
Islanders – December 28 vs Pittsburgh Penguins

ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they get you up-to-date on the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

1. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? 32:22
2. ITR 39: Conference Finals 35:18
3. ITR 38: Quenneville is a Duck 38:19
4. ITR 37: Round Two 45:11
5. ITR 36: Coaching Carousel 48:56