The Buffalo Sabres (11-14-4), mired in a three-game losing streak and desperate to salvage their six-game road trip, face the Edmonton Oilers (13-11-5) in a cross-conference battle at Rogers Place. Edmonton, buoyed by back-to-back blowout wins totaling 15 goals, leverages home-ice advantage (7-3-2) and a lethal power play (33.0%, No. 2 in NHL) against Buffalo’s porous penalty kill (78.5%, No. 24). The Sabres’ offensive flashes (2.97 GPG, No. 20) meet the Oilers’ balanced attack (3.31 GPG, No. 10), but goaltending mismatches—Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s .895 SV% vs. Calvin Pickard’s .902 in relief of injured Stuart Skinner—could expose Buffalo’s road woes (2-9-2). This rematch of Edmonton’s 5-1 win on Nov. 17 evokes a high-event series (avg. 6.2 goals), with the under hitting in six of the last seven head-to-heads.
Game Details
Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Puckdrop: 9:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home Record | Road Record | Atlantic/Pacific Division Stand |
| Buffalo Sabres | 11-14-4 | 9-5-2 | 2-9-2 | 8th in Atlantic |
| Edmonton Oilers | 13-11-5 | 7-3-2 | 6-8-3 | 4th in Pacific |
Buffalo ranks No. 28 in goals against (3.43 GAA) with a -22 differential, while Edmonton sits No. 15 in net rating (+0.2), excelling in high-danger chances (No. 7 at 12.4% conversion).Injury ReportGoaltending and forward depth challenge both, with Edmonton’s netminders in flux and Buffalo thin on the blue line.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Estimated Return |
| Buffalo Sabres | Michael Kesselring | D | Out (IR) | Lower Body | December 18 |
| Edmonton Oilers | Stuart Skinner | G | Out (IR) | Upper Body (indefinite) | January 2026 |
| Unnamed RW | RW | Out (IR-LT) | Undisclosed | December 23 | |
| Unnamed D | D | Out | Lower Body | December 27 | |
| Unnamed C | C | Out | Upper Body | December 23 | |
| Unnamed C | C | Out (IR-LT) | Knee | December 16 | |
| Unnamed C | C | Out | Concussion | December 13 |
Kesselring’s absence (key depth D, +3 rating) strains Buffalo’s pairings; several Oilers skaters are day-to-day, but Skinner’s IR forces Pickard into a high-wire act (.902 SV% in 8 starts). Edmonton’s forward injuries elevate Leon Draisaitl’s usage.
Recent Team Forms
Buffalo’s skid (0-3-0) has yielded 15 goals against in three games, exposing defensive lapses. Edmonton’s surge (3-1-0 last four) features 24 goals scored, with explosive first periods.
Buffalo Sabres Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 8 | @ CGY | L 4-7 | Dahlin G+A; Luukkonen pulled after 22 SA, 3rd straight loss |
| Dec. 5 | @ WPG | L 1-4 | Thompson G; 0/3 PP, road woes continue |
| Dec. 3 | vs. PHI | L 2-5 | Tuch 2A; Blew early lead, 28 SOG |
| Nov. 30 | vs. TOR | W 3-2 | Power GWG; Clutch home win pre-trip |
| Nov. 28 | @ DET | L 3-4 OT | Dahlin 2A; OT defeat, 1/4 PP |
Form: 1-4-0 (ATS: 1-4). Sabres averaging 2.6 GPG, allowing 4.6 GA/GP on skid
Edmonton Oilers Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 6 | vs. WPG | W 6-2 | Draisaitl G+A, Bouchard G+A; 4 goals in 1st, Pickard 19 saves |
| Dec. 4 | vs. SEA | W 9-4 | McDavid 3A; Offensive explosion, 2/4 PP |
| Dec. 2 | @ MIN | L 0-1 | Skinner shutout bid fails; Low-event, 0/2 PP |
| Nov. 29 | vs. SJS | W 5-3 | Nugent-Hopkins 2G; Comeback from 2-0 down |
| Nov. 27 | @ VAN | L 3-4 | Draisaitl 2G; Narrow road loss, 35 SOG |
Form: 3-2-0 (ATS: 3-2). Oilers 4-1-0 in last five home, averaging 4.6 GPG.
Series History
Edmonton holds a slight all-time regular-season edge (45-33-10 out of 88 games), but Buffalo has won six of the last 10, including a 5-1 thrashing on Nov. 17, 2025.
All-Time Regular Season: Oilers lead 45-33-10 (56.8% win rate)
Last 10 Meetings: Sabres 6-4-0
Recent Results:
Nov. 17, 2025: Sabres 5-1 (Oilers; Thompson hat trick)
Mar. 10, 2025: Sabres 3-2 (Oilers)
Jan. 25, 2025: Oilers 3-2 (Sabres)
Mar. 21, 2024: Oilers 8-3 (Sabres)
Mar. 9, 2024: Sabres 3-2 (Oilers)
Series averages 6.2 goals, with unders in six of last seven. Edmonton is 3-2 SU in last five home vs. Buffalo.
Key Player Matchups
Star power defines this tilt, with Buffalo’s snipers testing Edmonton’s relief netminder.
Tage Thompson (BUF, 12G-14A-26P) vs. Leon Draisaitl (EDM, 15G-20A-35P): Thompson’s power (team-high 12G) exploits gaps; Draisaitl’s vision (1.3 PPG) feeds rushes, with 4P in last three vs. BUF. Edge: Oilers—Draisaitl’s PP mastery (9 PPG).
Rasmus Dahlin (BUF, 8G-18A-26P) vs. Evan Bouchard (EDM, 7G-16A-23P): Dahlin’s puck-moving (team-high 18A) vs. Bouchard’s bomb (G+A vs. WPG). Edge: Toss-up; Dahlin’s +5 rating.
Alex Tuch (BUF, 10G-12A-22P) vs. Connor McDavid (EDM, 14G-25A-39P): Tuch’s speed (2A vs. CGY) counters McDavid’s elite edge (team-high 25A). Edge: Oilers—McDavid’s series dominance (6P last four).
Goalie Duel: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF, .895 SV%) vs. Calvin Pickard (EDM, .902 SV%): Luukkonen’s road struggles (.880) vs. Pickard’s relief form (2.81 GAA). Edge: Oilers.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Edmonton 6-4 ATS at home; Buffalo 2-14 SU last 16 road.
Total: 6.5 (O +100; U -120). Unders in six of last seven H2H; Buffalo overs in 4 of last 6 road (avg. 6.8 goals).
Other Trends:
Sabres: 1-4 ATS last five; 2-4 SU last six road vs. Edmonton.
Oilers: 4-1 SU last five; Under in five of last seven home.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 6.5
Edmonton Oilers – 205
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 8, 2025
