Inside The Rink Gameday Graphic
The Buffalo Sabres visit the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, with puck drop set for 10:30 PM EDT.
Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (4-4-3, 11 points in 2026-27) at San Jose Sharks (6-5-1, 13 points in 2026-27)
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Puck drop: 10:30 PM EDT (7:30 PM PDT local)
Venue: SAP Center at San Jose
How to watch: SJS: ESPN, SN360
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Buffalo Sabres News & Notes
Buffalo’s early-season struggles carried into a loss to the Washington Capitals, with the message afterward that the group has “got to remember it’s 60 minutes.” The Sabres have acknowledged their defensive game must improve, and they continue searching for a breakdown-free effort heading into a matchup with the San Jose Sharks. Goaltending has not been the lone issue. Forward Josh Doan said the team owes Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen “a huge apology,” and Luukkonen, while thankful for the support, said, “in the end, we’re in it as a team.”
The long-running pursuit of Connor Hellebuyck ended without a deal, with the goaltender going from Winnipeg to New Jersey. Elliotte Friedman reported that Buffalo knew it was out of the running before the trade was completed. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said Luukkonen will be a “big part” of the team’s future. Attention has since turned to Dylan Larkin, though reporting indicates the Detroit captain will not consider Buffalo, with another Atlantic Division club entering the picture.
San Jose Sharks News & Notes
Forward Igor Chernyshov left San Jose’s game against Ottawa with an injury and has since been labeled week-to-week, removing him from a top-six role. Alexander Wennberg is also unavailable as the club moves into a four-game homestand. Adam Gaudette made his season debut when the Sharks visited Boston on Saturday, stepping into a lineup that needed bodies up front. With Chernyshov out, Collin Graf was initially promoted to skate alongside Macklin Celebrini on the top line.
The forward group has been reshuffled again since then. Rookie Ivar Stenberg has been bumped to the top line with Celebrini and Will Smith, part of a broader set of changes that also touched the defense pairs. In goal, Alex Nedeljkovic’s early work has been enough to give him the crease until further notice, pushing him ahead of Yaroslav Askarov in the rotation as San Jose returns home.
Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines
Line 1: Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Konsta Helenius
Line 2: Josh Doan – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Line 3: Jason Zucker – Josh Norris – Ryan McLeod
Line 4: Peyton Krebs – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malenstyn
Pair 1: Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Pair 2: Olen Zellweger – Owen Power
Pair 3: Zach Metsa – Louis Crevier
Goaltenders: Colten Ellis – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Buffalo Sabres Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Jack Quinn – Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Tage Thompson – Rasmus Dahlin
Power play, Second unit: Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Josh Doan – Owen Power – Josh Norris
Penalty kill, First unit: Ryan McLeod – Zach Benson – Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Penalty kill, Second unit: Josh Norris – Beck Malenstyn – Zach Metsa – Olen Zellweger
San Jose Sharks Projected Lines
Line 1: Ivar Stenberg – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
Line 2: Mason Marchment – Michael Misa – Collin Graf
Line 3: Kiefer Sherwood – Ty Dellandrea – Tyler Toffoli
Line 4: Barclay Goodrow – Zack Ostapchuk – Adam Gaudette
Pair 1: Darnell Nurse – Jacob Trouba
Pair 2: Sam Dickinson – Michael Kesselring
Pair 3: Nolan Allan – Dmitry Orlov
Goaltenders: Yaroslav Askarov – Alex Nedeljkovic
San Jose Sharks Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Mason Marchment – Will Smith – Macklin Celebrini – Ivar Stenberg – Dmitry Orlov
Power play, Second unit: Kiefer Sherwood – Michael Misa – Tyler Toffoli – Adam Gaudette – Jacob Trouba
Penalty kill, First unit: Zack Ostapchuk – Barclay Goodrow – Sam Dickinson – Jacob Trouba
Penalty kill, Second unit: Ty Dellandrea – Collin Graf – Darnell Nurse – Michael Kesselring
Players To Watch
Zach Benson — Buffalo Sabres
Benson owns the best possession numbers on the roster, per Box Score Junkie’s 2026-27 figures: 62.9% Corsi-for, 68.0 shot attempts for per 60 and 8.0 high-danger expected goals generated with him on the ice. The finishing hasn’t followed — zero goals on 4.8 individual xG. He assisted in his last game. That gap should close.
Will Smith — San Jose Sharks
Smith scored on five shots last time out and has driven play all season. Box Score Junkie’s 2026-27 numbers have him at 54.4% Corsi-for and 55.7% Fenwick, with 61.3 shot attempts for per 60. Four goals on 4.4 expected goals says the production is earned, not luck. A reasonable shots-on-goal play.
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres
Jiri Kulich (C) — Out, Concussion, expected back Wednesday, November 4
Justin Danforth (RW) — Day-To-Day, Upper Body, expected back Tuesday, October 27
Sam Carrick (C) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Tuesday, October 27
Alex Lyon (G) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 31
Matt Grzelcyk (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Tuesday, October 27
Conor Timmins (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Friday, November 6
Jack Rathbone (D) — Injured Reserve, Undisclosed, expected back Sunday, November 8
San Jose Sharks
Igor Chernyshov (LW) — Out, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, November 14
Alexander Wennberg (C) — Out, Upper Body, expected back Monday, November 9
Quentin Musty (LW) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Tuesday, December 1
Kyle Keyser (G) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Tuesday, December 1
Betting Odds
Moneyline (DraftKings, as of October 27 at 4:22 AM ET): Buffalo Sabres -142, San Jose Sharks +120.
Odds change through the day; check the sportsbook before betting. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Next Up
Buffalo Sabres: visit the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, October 29.
San Jose Sharks: host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, October 29.