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

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

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

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

Buy Buffalo Hockey Merchandise Below!
Buffalo Hockey – Inside The Rink

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

Get your Isles Hockey merchandise here

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

Mike Reilly – IR
Semyon Varlamov – IR

Next Up

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

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
  1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing
  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
  3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

ECHL: Oliver Cooper Signs with Florida, Adds Size and Grit Up Front

The Florida Everblades have signed 30-year-old forward Oliver Cooper for the 2025–26 season. A 6’3”, 205-pound center from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Cooper brings a physical presence and a proven winning track record to the Everblades’ forward group. ECHL Familiarity and European Experience Cooper returns to the ECHL with a wealth of professional experience. Most recently, […]

Read More

ECHL: Indy Fuel Re-Sign Jesse Tucker

The Indy Fuel have announced that they’ve re-signed center Jesse Tucker for the 2025-26 season. Tucker, 25, made his pro debut last season with the Indy Fuel. In 19 games, he scored two goals, both of which came in back-to-back games on March 8th and 9th. He would play in all four games during the […]

Read More
Trent Frederic skating for the Edmonton Oilers

Trent Frederic: The Perfect Fit for the Oilers

On June 27th, The Edmonton Oilers locked in one of their key trade deadline additions, Trent Frederic, to an eight-year, $30.8 million contract with a cap hit of $3.85 million per year. Acquired from the Boston Bruins at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Frederic wasn’t at full health when he arrived in Edmonton, but the […]

Read More