Islanders Face Sabres Before Start Of Christmas Break: Lines & Notes
Can the Islanders build off an impressive win over Toronto with another big dub against the Sabres?
ELMONT, NY — After a complete team effort in Toronto, the New York Islanders (13-14-7) come home for the holidays against the Buffalo Sabres (11-19-4).
Puck drop is set for 7:30, and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders enter the game, eyeing a sweep of the Sabres. New York defeated Buffalo 4-3 at KeyBank Center on Nov. 1 and shut them out 3-0 on Nov. 29 at UBS Arena.
Buffalo enters the game on a 13-game losing streak (0-10-3), with their last matchup being the third game on the stretch.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Tsyplakov-Horvat-Holmstrom
Lee-Barzal-Pageau
Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri
MacLean-Cizikas-Fasching
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
George-Mayfield
Sorokin
Hogberg
WHO’S HOT:
Isaiah George scored his first NHL goal in Saturday’s game in his 20th career game. He now boasts a goal and three assists for four points this season, averaging 17:31 of ice time.
Bo Horvat had a three-point game on Saturday, recording two red lights and a helper in the contest. It was his 27th game with at least three points and his sixth with New York.
Simon Holmstrom had two assists against the Toronto Maple Leafs, setting a new career-high in helpers with 12; he also had two goals against Buffalo in their last matchup. Across 34 games this season, he has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.
Anders Lee added a goal on the power play in the last meeting between the teams, increasing his lead in goals and points against Buffalo; the Islanders captain has 15 goals and 22 points in 35 career games against the Sabres. Casey Cizikas leads in assists with 14.
Brock Nelson remains two short of moving into a tie with Brent Sutter and Pat LaFontaine for fifth place on the Islanders’ all-time goals list with 285 goals in his career.
Ilya Sorokin will make his 11th straight start on Monday and third in as many games against Buffalo this season. He defeated the Maple Leafs on Saturday with 26 saves on 29 shots. Lifetime against the Sabres, he is 7-3-2 with a 2.42 GAA and .921 SV%. He won both of his matchups with Buffalo this season, boasting a 1.50 GAA and .953 SV%, most recently shutting them out on Nov. 29 with 29 saves.
OPPONENT’S NOTES:
Despite Buffalo’s long losing streak, J.J. Peterka has been a bright spot recently. He enters play on Monday with a four-game point streak with two goals and four assists in that span.
Tage Thompson, son of former Bridgeport Islanders head coach Brent Thompson, is Buffalo’s leading goal-scorer this year, totaling 16 red lights. Defenseman Owen Power tops the team in overall assists with 17, with Thompson and Alex Tuch tied for the lead in total points with 25.
Against New York, Jason Zucker is the Sabres’ leader in goals and points against the Islanders with eight and 13, respectively, in 24 games career games. Rasmus Dahlin has the most assists against New York among active Sabres, with 11 in the same span.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start for Buffalo against the Islanders. He last started on Friday against the Maple Leafs, surrendering four goals on 13 shots in a loss before getting pulled in the second period. Against the Islanders, he is 2-1-0 with a 1.69 GAA and .942 SV%, earning a 21-save shutout the last time he faced them.
Sabres Latest Lines
NOTES: Dahlin (back spasms) returns to the lineup. Quinn returns.
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Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those that drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information,
All you need to know about this team. When a team is terrible at home they are a bad team. 70 Days Lou and Patrick roll up your sleeves and retool this team. Pulock Palmeri JG Lee should be moved. Pulock is the gem. JG and Palmeri are draft picks. Lee should be moved also, the way he is playing there’s a market. Pull you Jefferies and Foudy. Feel bad for Sorokin.