KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT)
TV: MSG-B / MSG (Sabres), Wild+ / MINNHL (Minnesota), ESPN+ (out-of-market)
Minnesota is perfect through two games and begins a multi-game road trip. Buffalo is 1-1 and continues a five-game homestand after a bounce-back win.
Projected Lineups / Current Rosters
Minnesota Wild (projected; Jesper Wallstedt confirmed/expected to start):
Forwards: Kirill Kaprizov – Danila Yurov – Maxim Shabanov; Blake Coleman – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy; Yakov Trenin – Ryan Hartman – Bobby Brink; Marcus Foligno – Michael McCarron – Nick Foligno
Defense: Quinn Hughes – Jared Spurgeon; Olli Maatta – Jonas Brodin; Daemon Hunt – Zach Bogosian
Goalies: Jesper Wallstedt (starter), Calvin Pickard
Scratched (projected): Nico Sturm, David Spacek
Note: Danila Yurov is questionable (participated in optional morning skate after leaving practice early Monday). If he sits, Ryan Hartman could move up to center the top line, with adjustments to the lower lines.
Buffalo Sabres (projected; Colten Ellis expected to make his season debut):
Forwards: Josh Norris – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan; Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn; Peyton Krebs – Jiri Kulich – Konsta Helenius; Beck Malenstyn – Ryan McLeod – Justin Danforth
Defense: Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin; Olen Zellweger – Owen Power; Zach Metsa – Louis Crevier
Goalies: Colten Ellis (starter), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Scratched (projected): Sam Carrick, Tyson Kozak, Matt Grzelcyk
Injury Reports
Wild: Brock Faber (D, skull fracture/upper-body, IR, out indefinitely after preseason surgery); Filip Gustavsson (G, lower-body/hip, IR, out long-term); Danila Yurov (RW, undisclosed/upper-body, day-to-day/questionable).
Sabres: Jason Zucker (LW, sports hernia/abdomen, out); Conor Timmins (D, lower-body, out); Alex Lyon (G, upper-body, out).
Recent Team Forms
Minnesota: 3-1 road win at Nashville (Oct. 1) and 4-1 home win over Boston (Oct. 3). Outscored opponents 7-2 overall. Kirill Kaprizov has three goals; Quinn Hughes has three points. Special teams elite early (PP ~43%, PK 100%). Jesper Wallstedt has been outstanding (2-0-0, ~1.01 GAA, .957 SV%). Resilience shown without Faber.
Buffalo: Opened with a 6-3 loss at Columbus, then a 4-3 home win over Chicago (Oct. 3, Jiri Kulich GWG). High-event early (3.5 GPG for and against). Owen Power leads with three assists; Tage Thompson and others contributing. Special teams cold so far (0% PP, 60% PK in limited samples). Colten Ellis gets the first start of the season.
Series History
Minnesota holds a strong all-time edge (approximately 18-10-7 overall, with a solid road record in Buffalo). The Wild have earned points in 18 of the last 23 meetings (13-5-5). Recent games have often been close (many decided by one goal or going to OT/SO). No major playoff history between the clubs.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Kirill Kaprizov / Matt Boldy / Minnesota top six vs. Tage Thompson / Josh Norris lines and Buffalo’s skill forwards (Quinn, Doan, Benson): Kaprizov’s early scoring surge against Buffalo’s high-end talent.
Quinn Hughes / Jared Spurgeon vs. Rasmus Dahlin / Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power: Elite offensive defensemen matching up; Hughes has been productive early without Faber.
Joel Eriksson Ek’s two-way play vs. Buffalo’s middle six: Structure and faceoffs against Sabres’ depth.
Goaltending: Jesper Wallstedt (hot early) vs. Colten Ellis (season debut). Minnesota’s shot suppression could limit Buffalo’s chances.
Special teams: Minnesota’s strong early PP/PK vs. Buffalo’s struggles.
Betting Trends
Minnesota’s perfect start, elite goaltending, and special teams give them the edge on form, despite missing Faber and potentially Yurov. Buffalo has home ice and a potential bounce from Ellis’s debut, but early defensive and special-teams issues are concerns. Historical trends favor Minnesota getting results in Buffalo.
Game Odds
Minnesota Wild – 110
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 5, 2026
