The Buffalo Sabres (12-14-4) travel to face the Vancouver Canucks (11-16-3) in a cross-conference matchup at Rogers Arena, where both teams seek momentum amid disappointing seasons. Buffalo, coming off an OT win in Edmonton, aims to build on Tage Thompson’s scoring surge against a Canucks squad desperate for a spark after a 4-0 shutout loss to Detroit, marking their fifth defeat in seven games. Vancouver gets a boost with Thatcher Demko’s return in net, but injuries to Elias Pettersson and others leave them vulnerable to the Sabres’ balanced attack (2.97 GPG, 18th). This first meeting of the season—part of a home-and-home split last year—projects as a high-scoring affair, with Buffalo’s road resilience (5-7-2 away) edging a 4-3 victory over a Canucks team ranked last in the Pacific.
Venue Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia (capacity: 18,910). The Canucks are 4-9-1 at home this season, allowing 3.2 GPG, but have covered the spread in five of their last eight as underdogs following a loss.
Puckdrop: 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT).
Broadcast on ESPN+, MSG Buffalo (Sabres), and Sportsnet Pacific (Canucks), with radio on WGR 550 AM (Buffalo) and Sportsnet 650 AM (Vancouver).
Injury Report
Injuries continue to hinder both squads, with Vancouver’s top center questionable and Buffalo monitoring its backup goalie after a concussion scare. The Sabres’ depth takes a hit without Zucker, while the Canucks welcome Demko back but lack Pettersson’s playmaking. Updates from Wednesday’s practices:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Sabres | Colten Ellis | G | Day-to-Day | Upper Body (Concussion Protocol) | Entered protocol after high hit vs. EDM; 4-3-0, 2.50 GAA in 7 GP. Luukkonen likely starts. |
| Sabres | Joshua Norris | C | Day-to-Day | Illness/Soreness | Late scratch vs. EDM; 2G-5A in 5 GP. Upper-body unrelated to opener injury. |
| Sabres | Jason Zucker | LW | Out (IR) | Upper/Lower Body | Week-to-week after sustaining in CGY loss; 9G-8A in 21 GP. Missed EDM game. |
| Sabres | Justin Danforth | RW | Out | Undisclosed | IR; limited stats in 15 GP. |
| Sabres | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | G | Available | None | Full practice; 4-5-1, 3.12 GAA. |
| Sabres | Tage Thompson | C | Available | None | Ready; 14G-12A, 26 points. |
| Canucks | Elias Pettersson | C | Day-to-Day | Upper Body | Missed last two; 8G-14A in 28 GP. Additional testing; could return to practice Wednesday. |
| Canucks | Teddy Blueger | C | Out | Lower Body | IR until at least Dec. 27; 1G in 2 GP. |
| Canucks | Derek Forbort | D | Out | Undisclosed | IR until Dec. 22; 0G-0A. |
| Canucks | Guillaume Brisebois | D | Out | Undisclosed | IR; limited role in 25 GP. |
| Canucks | Thatcher Demko | G | Available | Lower Body | Returns after 12 games missed; 5-4-0, 2.80 GAA, .903 SV%. Starts vs. BUF. |
| Canucks | Quinn Hughes | D | Available | None | Full go; 0G-20A, team assists leader. |
Buffalo’s goaltending depth is tested without Ellis; Vancouver’s blue line leans on Hughes amid Forbort’s absence.
Player Matchups
Key battles will highlight Buffalo’s youth against Vancouver’s structure, with special teams (Sabres 22.1% PP, Canucks 78.9% PK) pivotal:
Sabres C Tage Thompson vs. Canucks D Quinn Hughes
Thompson (14G-12A, 26 points) dominates with power (2.9 SOG/game), facing Hughes’ elite mobility (0G-20A). Thompson has 5 goals in last six road; Hughes’ blocks (1.4/game) limit centers to 1.2 points—crucial for Vancouver’s transitions.
Canucks C Aatu Raty vs. Sabres C Dylan Cozens
Raty (heating up with 4G in last five) centers second line, matched against Cozens’ two-way (6G-10A). Raty’s role elevated sans Pettersson; Cozens’ PK (team-high 2:10 SH TOI) disrupts cycles.
Sabres RW JJ Peterka vs. Canucks LW Nils Hoglander
Peterka (secondary scorer, 8G) exploits edges, drawing Hoglander’s return (3G in 15 GP). Peterka has multi-points in 3 of 7 vs. Pacific; Hoglander’s speed adds bottom-six spark.
Canucks G Thatcher Demko vs. Sabres Top Line (Thompson-Skinner-Peterka)
Demko (2.80 GAA returning) faces BUF’s unit (1.4 goals/game), generating 12.5 SA/game. Demko’s .903 SV% covers mistakes; Sabres’ shot volume (29 SOG/G) tests rust.
Sabres G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen vs. Canucks RW Brock Boeser
Luukkonen (3.12 GAA) battles Boeser’s finish (12G); Boeser has 4 goals in last six home. Luukkonen’s .910 SV% vs. top-15 attacks holds.
Buffalo’s power forward style challenges Vancouver’s depleted D.
Team Records
Buffalo Sabres: 12-14-4 (8th in Atlantic Division)
5-7-2 on road, averaging 2.97 GPG (18th) while allowing 3.45 (29th). PP 22.1% (8th), PK 77.9% (28th); -14 goal differential, 13-17 ATS.
Vancouver Canucks: 11-16-3 (8th in Pacific Division)
4-9-1 at home, averaging 2.77 GPG (25th) while allowing 3.20 (23rd). PP 18.8% (18th), PK 78.9% (24th); -14 goal differential, 12-18 ATS.
Teams split last season’s two games (each won on road).
Recent Team Forms
Buffalo has won two of five (3-2-0), outscored 16-19, with road resilience but defensive leaks. Vancouver is 1-4 (1-4-0), outscored 9-14, scoring just 1.8 GPG during skid.
| Sabres Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| @ CGY | Dec 8 | Away | L 4-7 | Luukkonen 24/31 saves; Thompson 1G-1A, 2/6 PP. |
| @ EDM | Dec 9 | Away | W 4-3 (OT) | Luukkonen 27/30; DeBrincat 2G, 2/6 PP thriller. |
| @ WPG | Dec 5 | Away | L 1-4 | Ellis .882 SV%; 1/2 PP, outshot 35-23. |
| @ PHI | Dec 3 | Away | L 2-5 | Luukkonen .870 SV%; 1/6 PP collapse. |
| vs. WPG | Dec 1 | Home | W 5-1 | Luukkonen .960 SV%; Norris 1G, 1/3 PP rout. |
Form Notes: 2-3, outscored 16-20. Road 1-2 (+0.3 margin); PP 25% last five.
| Canucks Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. DET | Dec 9 | Home | L 0-4 | Lankinen .806 SV%; 0/3 PP shutout. |
| @ SJS | Nov 28 | Away | L 2-3 | Tolopilo .917 SV%; 0/8 PP, outshot 34-24. |
| @ LA | Nov 29 | Away | L 1-2 | Lankinen .913 SV%; 0/3 PP low-event. |
| @ COL | Dec 2 | Away | L 1-3 | Lankinen .870 SV%; 0/1 PP, 21 SOG. |
| vs. UTA | Dec 5 | Home | L 1-4 | Lankinen .882 SV%; 0/3 PP collapse. |
Form Notes: 0-5, outscored 5-16. Home 0-2 (-3 margin); PK 70% last five.
Series History
All-time, the series is even at 60-60 with 19 ties in 139 games (regular season: 59-52-19-2 for Canucks). Vancouver holds a slight 35-23-11 home edge, but Buffalo won the most recent road game 4-3 on March 27, 2025. Recent trends: Split last season (Sabres 4-3 at VAN, Canucks 5-2 at BUF). Overs hit in seven of 10 (average 6.3 goals), with high-event play common due to weak PKs. First of two this season.
Betting Trends
Moneyline: 68% bets/74% handle on Sabres (fading Canucks’ skid). Sabres 5-5 SU as road faves; Canucks 4-6 SU home dogs.
Puck Line: 62% bets on Canucks +1.5 (value), 59% handle on Sabres -1.5 amid BUF’s 6-3 road cover streak. Canucks 7-5 ATS home.
Total: 65% bets on Over 6.5 (81% handle), as seven of 10 series over and combined 6.17 GPG. Under in five of Canucks’ last eight home.
Key Trends: Sabres 3-2 SU last five road; Canucks 7-8 home underdogs after loss. Sharps on Sabres ML.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres – 115
Vancouver Canucks 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
