Game Details
Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York (home game for New York Islanders)
Broadcast: ESPN+, MSG Sportsnet, Fubo (live stream)
This Atlantic vs. Metropolitan Division clash features two teams with nearly identical records, setting up a potential playoff preview. The Sabres have been surging with strong road performances, while the Islanders aim to leverage home ice to snap a recent skid. Expect a physical, low-scoring affair given their defensive styles and historical trends
Buffalo holds a slight edge in the standings, riding a hot streak with 16 wins in their last 20 games overall
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. The Islanders are competitive but have struggled lately, sitting second in the Metropolitan
Recent Team Forms
Both teams enter with mixed results in January 2026, but Buffalo has been more consistent. Here’s a summary of their last five games (most recent first, based on available results):
Buffalo Sabres (Form: W-W-W-L-W):
Jan 23 at Montreal Canadiens: 4-2 Win (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 32 saves; held off late push)
Jan 20 vs. Nashville Predators: 5-3 Win (Balanced scoring; extended win streak)
Jan 19 vs. Seattle Kraken: 3-2 Win (Close contest; defensive stand in third).
Jan 17 at Ottawa Senators: 2-3 Loss (Snapped brief streak; overtime defeat).
Jan 15 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: 4-1 Win (Dominant performance; power play efficiency).
The Sabres are 4-1 in their last five, averaging 3.6 goals per game with elite goaltending from Luukkonen (sub-2.50 GAA recently). They’ve won 8 of their last 10 road games, showing resilience away from home
New York Islanders (Form: L-W-L-W-L):
Jan 21 vs. Seattle Kraken: 1-4 Loss (Outshot but poor finishing; ended home stand poorly)
Jan 18 at Washington Capitals: 3-2 Win (Overtime thriller; Horvat absent but depth stepped up).
Jan 16 vs. Philadelphia Flyers: 2-4 Loss (Defensive lapses; power play struggles).
Jan 13 at New Jersey Devils: 5-3 Win (High-scoring road victory; Barzal multi-point game).
Jan 10 vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 1-2 Loss (Tight defensive battle; fell short in shootout).
The Islanders are 2-3 in their last five, averaging 2.4 goals per game. They’ve gone 1-4 overall in recent outings, with injuries impacting consistency, but remain strong at home (15-8-3)
Series History
The Sabres and Islanders have a storied rivalry with 194 all-time meetings (regular season). Buffalo leads overall 92-77-25, but New York has dominated recently at home. Regular Season Head-to-Head: Sabres lead 92-77-25, with an average combined score of 5.8 goals per game. Recent History: Sabres are 6-4-0 in the last 10 meetings. Islanders have won 13 of the last 15 home games vs. Buffalo. Most Recent Meeting: January 19, 2023 – Sabres 3-2 win (historical data; no 2026 meetings yet noted). Trends: Games often feature overs (4 of Buffalo’s last 6 overall), but head-to-head tilts toward low-scoring at UBS Arena. Longest Sabres streak: 7 wins (2000-2001).
No playoff history between these franchises. This matchup typically delivers competitive, edge-of-your-seat hockey, with home ice proving crucial for the Islanders.
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres:
Jacob Bryson (D): Placed on IR (undisclosed injury from Jan 23 game vs. Canadiens)
Zach Benson (F): Injured in Jan 23 win (status unclear; left game early)
Josh Norris (C): Out (ribs; on IR since Jan 19)
Justin Danforth (RW): Out (lower body)
Jimmy Dunne (C): Out (middle body)
Rasmus Dahlin (D): Missed practice Jan 23 (maintenance; expected to play)
Zac Jones (D): Recalled from AHL to fill in
New York Islanders:
Bo Horvat (C): Expected to return (lower body; missed 9 games)
Ryan Pulock (D): Day-to-day (upper body; questionable after recent injury)
No other major injuries reported; key players like Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin are healthy.
Buffalo’s defensive depth is tested, while Horvat’s return boosts the Islanders’ offense.
Key Player Matchups
This game will spotlight offensive stars and defensive anchors. Here are the critical battles:
Tage Thompson (Buffalo, C) vs. Mathew Barzal (Islanders, C): Thompson leads Buffalo in scoring (projected 30+ goals) with his lethal shot, facing Barzal’s speed and playmaking (top in assists for NYI). This center matchup could control the game’s pace
Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo, D) vs. Bo Horvat (Islanders, C): Dahlin, a Norris contender with strong two-way play, must contain Horvat’s return (faceoff specialist, 20+ goals). Expect physicality in the neutral zone
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo, G) vs. Ilya Sorokin (Islanders, G): Luukkonen (recent 32-save shutout effort) vs. Sorokin (elite .920+ SV%). Goaltending duel could decide a low-scorer.
Alex Tuch (Buffalo, RW) vs. Noah Dobson (Islanders, D): Tuch’s forechecking speed tests Dobson’s puck-moving ability; secondary scoring here is key.
Buffalo’s depth gives them an edge if injuries linger for NYI, but Horvat’s return evens the ice
Betting Trends
Buffalo Sabres: 16-4 SU in last 20 games; 8-2 SU in last 10 road games. Over in 4 of last 6 overall, but 2-13 SU in last 15 road vs. Islanders. ATS: 7-3 in last 10. New York Islanders: 1-4 SU in last 5 games; 2-3 ATS in last 5. 13-2 SU in last 15 home vs. Sabres. Over hits in 3 of last 5 home games. Head-to-Head Trends: Islanders 4-1 in last 5 meetings; under in 3 of last 5 (average 5.2 goals). Buffalo +1.5 has hit 60% recently vs. NYI. League trend: January 2026 NHL games have trended over 55% in matinee matchups.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
New York Islanders – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 23, 2026
