The Buffalo Sabres wrap up March on Tuesday night with a prime-time home date against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and the stakes could not be higher as Buffalo continues its late-season surge.
With 98 points and a 45-21-8 record, the Sabres sit second in the Atlantic Division and are chasing their first 100-point campaign since 2009-10. A victory would also deliver the franchise’s 2,000th all-time win. The Islanders enter with an 89-point mark (42-28-5) and currently hold third place in the Metropolitan Division, but Buffalo has taken both meetings so far this season.
Sabres March Dominance and Tight Eastern Conference Race
Buffalo has gone 10-2-2 this month against mostly playoff-caliber opponents. The team snapped a brief three-game skid with a come-from-behind shootout win over Seattle on Saturday and has dropped just four games total since the Olympic break.
The Atlantic remains a logjam. Montreal and Tampa Bay face each other Tuesday, while Boston lurks just behind. Every point matters if the Sabres hope to secure home-ice advantage in the first round. Coach Lindy Ruff has emphasized the importance of staying locked in on their own game while keeping an eye on the wider conference picture.
Practice Report, Expected Lineup and Injury Updates
Monday’s skate showed forward Noah Ostlund (upper body) will miss a third straight contest. Defenseman Michael Kesselring, along with Timmins and Schenn, logged extra ice time after practice, which points to Zach Metsa drawing into the lineup from Rochester.
The Sabres are expected to break their recent goalie rotation and start Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He has posted a 3-1-1 record with a .937 save percentage over his last five appearances. Jordan Greenway (undisclosed) and Kesselring remain possibilities to return, but updates will come after warm-ups around 6:30 p.m.
Players to Watch for Buffalo
Rasmus Dahlin has been on fire, scoring four goals in his last six games to reach a personal career milestone. He also owns an active three-game point streak against the Islanders. Tage Thompson continues to dominate the season series and brings elite scoring punch, while Zach Benson has piled up eight points (3G, 5A) in his past eight outings.
Peyton Krebs has found the scoresheet in back-to-back games, and a strong showing from the depth group—including Sam Carrick, who is winning 58.2 percent of faceoffs since joining Buffalo—will be critical.
Scouting the Islanders
New York comes in hot in the second game of back-to-backs (9-3-1 this season) but was dealt an 8-3 loss in Pittsburgh on Monday. First-overall pick Matthew Schaefer leads the rookie class with 56 points (22G, 34A) and is the heavy favorite for the Calder Trophy. He is also closing in on the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman.
The Islanders added Brayden Schenn at the trade deadline, and the younger brother of Luke Schenn has contributed eight points (4G, 4A) in 12 games. Goaltending remains a question mark after starter Ilya Sorokin was pulled in Monday’s loss. It is unclear whether Sorokin or backup David Rittich will start in Buffalo.
Season Series and Standout Stats
Buffalo has owned the season series, winning 3-2 in a shootout at home on Dec. 20 and 5-0 on the road Jan. 24. Thompson, Dahlin and Jason Zucker each have two goals against New York already this year.
Additional numbers to know:
- The Sabres are 10-9-1 against Metropolitan Division teams this season.
- Six players have appeared in all 74 games: Tage Thompson, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod, Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs.
- Buffalo ranks first in the NHL in wins (34) and points (72) since Dec. 9.
How to Watch Sabres vs Islanders
- TV (Buffalo market): MSG (pregame coverage begins at 5 p.m.)
- Streaming: Gotham Sports App
- Radio: WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres App
Path to the Playoffs and Final Thoughts
A win Tuesday would give Buffalo its 10th 100-point season in franchise history and move the team one step closer to securing a playoff spot. With the Eastern Conference as tight as it has been in years, every two points counts.
Stay locked in here for warm-up updates, lineup confirmation and post-game analysis. If you have not yet secured your 2026-27 season tickets, now is the time to guarantee your seats for this spring’s playoff run. Let’s go Buffalo!
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