Buffalo Sabres (12-14-4, 28 pts) at Vancouver Canucks (11-16-3, 25 pts)
Venue: Rogers Arena
Date: Thursday, December 11
Time: 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT

TV: ESPN+ / MSG Buffalo / Sportsnet
Radio: 
Buffalo Sabres – WGR 550 AM SportsRadio
Vancouver Canucks – Sportsnet 650 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Buffalo Sabres -1.5 ML -120
Vancouver Canucks +1.5 ML +100
O/U 6.5

Buffalo Sabres News and Notes:

The Buffalo Sabres haven’t found a ton of success with a fairly mediocre record to start off their season, putting them in last place in the Eastern Conference. However, they have found immense success with putting pucks in the back of the net, scoring 4+ goals in three of the last five games. Although not all of them have transformed into wins, going 2-3 in that span, it is a form of momentum the Sabres can go off of in a much more winnable matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. The Sabres are just about to finish a six game road trip with the last away game Sunday against the Seattle Kraken, so this game is crucial for providing a push as they head back home to Buffalo next week.

Vancouver Canucks News and Notes:

In what has been an injury-riddled season for the Vancouver Canucks, they are finally starting to get some big pieces back. Former all-star starting goalie and Vezina trophy finalist, Thatcher Demko, is slotted to start tonight’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. The Canucks also got six-year forward, Nils Hoglander, back in the lineup to add a much-needed spark to the bottom six of the forward core. As of right now, the Canucks remain aimless in the direction of their 2025-26 season so with multiple returning players and facing another team near the bottom of the standings, this is finally a golden opportunity for the Canucks to find some redemption after a 4-0 shutout loss against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday as well as a chance to find any sense of momentum.

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines:

Krebs-Thompson-Tuch
Benson-Kozak-Doan
Rosen-McLeod-Quinn
Greenway-Dunne-Malenstyn

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Byram-Timmins
Power-Bryson

Luukkonen
Lyon

Vancouver Canucks Projected Lines:

Boeser-Kampf-Garland
Kane-Raty-Sherwood
DeBrusk-Sasson-Karlsson
Hoglander-O’Connor-Bains

Hughes-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Myers
E. N. Pettersson-Willander

Demko
Lankinen

Players to Watch:

Buffalo Sabres:

Josh Doan, son of long-time Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan, has been on a tear in his first season with the Buffalo Sabres. Doan has found a home on the top six of the forward core, providing immense offensive capabilities, potting 10 goals and grabbing 12 assists. Specifically, as of late, Doan has 7 points in his last 6 games, including two goals in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. Buffalo’s go-to guy, Tage Thompson, also had a massive night against the Oilers, notching a goal and two assists to propel the Sabres to their first win since their 5-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets on December 1st.

Vancouver Canucks:

Aatu Raty has quietly been on fire in a dark stretch for the Vancouver Canucks. Although he was held off the scoreboard against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Raty still has five points in his last four games. His role has been raised going into tonight’s game as well, being slotted into the second line centre position, thanks to his stellar production. On the other hand, Captain Quinn Hughes has been nowhere to be seen in this stretch, going without a point in his last six games, after once leading the league in assists. In a matchup against the other bottom team in their respective conference, the captain of the Vancouver Canucks needs to step up and do it fast.

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres:

C Josh Norris – Day to Day
G Colten Ellis – Day to Day
D Michael Kesselring – IR
LW Jason Zucker – IR
RW Justin Danforth – IR
C Jiri Kulich – IR

Vancouver Canucks:

C Elias Petersson – Day to Day
C Filip Chytil – IR
C Teddy Blueger – IR
D Guillaume Brisebois – IR
D Derek Forbort – LTIR

Next Game:

Buffalo Sabres: Sunday, December 14 at Seattle Kraken – 8pm ET
Vancouver Canucks: Sunday, December 14 at New Jersey Devils – 12:30pm ET

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