In a crucial matchup, the New York Islanders will face off against the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams are gearing up for a late-season clash that could impact their playoff trajectories.
Projected Lineups: Islanders vs. Sabres
Islanders Projected Lineup
- Anders Lee — Bo Horvat — Emil Heineman
- Calum Ritchie — Brayden Schenn — Mathew Barzal
- Ondrej Palat — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Simon Holmstrom
- Kyle MacLean — Casey Cizikas — Marc Gatcomb
- Matthew Schaefer — Ryan Pulock
- Adam Pelech — Carson Soucy
- Scott Mayfield — Adam Boqvist
Goaltending & Injuries
David Rittich is expected to start in goal after Ilya Sorokin allowed seven goals in a recent game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders are dealing with several injuries:
- Tony DeAngelo (lower body)
- Kyle Palmieri (ACL)
- Alexander Romanov (upper body)
- Semyon Varlamov (knee)
Sabres Projected Lineup
- Peyton Krebs — Tage Thompson — Alex Tuch
- Jason Zucker — Ryan McLeod — Jack Quinn
- Zach Benson — Josh Norris — Josh Doan
- Jordan Greenway — Sam Carrick — Beck Malenstyn
- Mattias Samuelsson — Rasmus Dahlin
- Bowen Byram — Owen Power
- Logan Stanley — Zach Metsa
Goaltending & Injuries
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected in net for the Sabres. The team faces injury challenges as well:
- Noah Ostlund (upper body)
- Jiri Kulich (blood clot)
- Justin Danforth (lower body)
Status Report
The Islanders skipped their morning skate after a challenging loss. Coach Lindy Ruff expressed that both Greenway and Metsa are potential options for the game, with Greenway poised to return after missing significant time due to injury. If Metsa is unable to play, defenseman Michael Kesselring may take his place.
This matchup presents both teams with a chance to solidify their playoff positions as they approach the season’s end.
