Eight Would be Great
Boston Bruins (20-17-1) vs Buffalo Sabres (18-14-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm Eastern Time | Keybank Center | Buffalo, New York
TV: MSG, ESPN+
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Boston Bruins
Record: (20-17-1) | 41 PTS
Last Game: Lost to Montreal 6-2
Division Ranking: 6th in the Atlantic
PP: 7th, 25.4% (Sabres: 15th, 20.2%)
PK: 19th, 79.2% (Sabres: 2nd, 84.5%)
What to Watch
1) Keep On Chugging Along
As good as this seven game winning streak feels for the players and fans, remember it could all end just like THAT. (Thanos SNAP!) For a team as young and inexperienced as the Sabres, it is important to stretch out this magical ride as long as possible. It would be so Sabre-like for the streak to end and they play out the rest of the season with the standard .500 hockey we know and hate. That would leave them short of the playoffs once again. For Buffalo to make the post season, it would really help to elongate this current hot streak as much as possible. Plus, they must average about 4 or 5 games above “NHL .500 hockey” the rest of the way in their remaining games. If the Sabres finish the season with about 9 or 10 victories more than regulation losses, that will put them right there on the playoff cusp. They currently sit 4 over.
So while eight would be great tonight for Buffalo, in the bigger picture, eight might not be enough. They really need to milk this winning streak for all it is worth. It will go a long way in determining if the Sabres can end the madness of this epic playoff drought. One game at a time though, they need to beat Boston to be the Kings of Eight.
2) Bring it
Boston has been a thorn in the side for Buffalo so far this year. The Bruins have won both times the teams have played, a 3-1 final in Boston and a 4-3 OT victory, also in Beantown. The next two contests will be home for the Sabres at Keybank Center. Buffalo must bring their “A” game against Boston, who are just 5-4-1 in their last ten games. They are susceptible right now and depend on David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie heavily to succeed. Much like Edmonton, if you can contain their top two players, you have a much better path to victory. Buffalo needs to take these next two games at home back from Boston, starting tonight and again in the new year.
The Sabres will move past the Bruins in the standings with a regulation victory tonight. In fact, Buffalo could pass as many as three teams if things go perfectly. (but when does that ever happen?) The Blue and Gold could also take a hard hit if Rasmus Dahlin and company fall tonight against Boston, and New Jersey and Ottawa win as well. Things are so tight in the division, one night’s results can really shift the dynamics.
Oct 11, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) after a face off against the Boston Bruins during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
3) Hurry Back Zuck
I used a picture of Jason Zucker in the cover photo because head coach Lindy Ruff said we could expect him back “after Chrsitmas”. Well, here we are Lindy! Unfortunately, that vague timeline could mean the first game back or several more weeks. As of this writing, no word yet on his status. Maybe I am just trying to WILL him back into the lineup. In all likelihood, we are probably looking at later next week after a few practices with the team before he returns. It would be nice to have him tonight though for that extra scoring depth. Not to mention his proficiency on the power play.
I sure hope Keybank Center is filled up and rocking tonight. An energized crowd with a playoff atmosphere is just what this team needs. The Sabres tend to feed off the positivity of fans moreso than your average team. This could be the most important home game for Buffalo in years All those in attendance, you have our permission to bang the glass, to sing and dance, scream and shout, and generally act like a maniac. Let’s go, BUFFALO!
UPDATE: As of 11am today, Jason Zucker was back on the ice practicing with the team but does not look to play tonight. But the big news is Rasmus Dahlin was not at practice this morning.
NEW UPDATE: From Paul Hamilton:
Dahlin is tending to his fiancee in Sweden, but he’ll likely be back Monday. Ryan Johnson has been called up.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan
Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Josh Dunne – Beck Malenstyn – Jordan Greenway
Defense
Bowen Byram – Mattias Samuelsson
Owen Power – Michael Kesselring
Jacob Bryson – Zach Metsa
Goalies: Alex Lyon, Ukko Pekka Luukkonen
Projected Lineups
Boston Bruins
Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
Tanner Jeannot – Fraser Minten – Mark Kastelic
Alex Steeves – Sean Kuraly – Marat Khusnutdinov
Defense
Nikita Zadorov – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Andrew Peeke
Vladislav Kolyachonok – Mason Lohrei
Goalies: Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo