The Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild are set to face off at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET. This matchup features two teams with contrasting seasons, as the Sabres look to salvage their campaign while the Wild aim to solidify their playoff position in the Western Conference.
Team Overview
Buffalo Sabres (27-34-6)
- Current Form: The Sabres are 1-1 on their current road trip, which began with an overtime victory against the Boston Bruins but was followed by a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club. Buffalo has struggled for consistency throughout the season and sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
- Road Record: Buffalo has a 12-18-3 record away from home, reflecting their struggles on the road.
- Key Players:
- Tage Thompson: The Sabres’ offensive leader with 34 goals and 26 assists (60 points). Thompson has been heating up, with 6 points in his last five games.
- Rasmus Dahlin: The elite defenseman has 53 points and continues to anchor Buffalo’s blue line.
- JJ Peterka: Returned from injury and scored a power-play goal in his last outing, adding depth to Buffalo’s offense.
- Goaltending:
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start. He has a 15-18-4 record with a 3.46 GAA and a .896 save percentage. Luukkonen will need to step up against Minnesota’s potent attack.
Minnesota Wild (39-25-5)
- Current Form: The Wild are riding a two-game winning streak, including a dominant 4-0 shutout against the Seattle Kraken in their last game. Despite missing key players due to injuries, Minnesota remains firmly in playoff contention.
- Home Record: Minnesota has been strong at home, boasting a 22-10-3 record at Xcel Energy Center.
- Key Players:
- Matt Boldy: Leads the team with 58 points and has stepped up in the absence of Kirill Kaprizov.
- Joel Eriksson Ek: A reliable two-way center with 50 points this season.
- Filip Gustavsson: The goaltender has been exceptional, recording a 34-save shutout in his last outing and posting a .939 save percentage in March.
- Goaltending:
- Filip Gustavsson is expected to start. He has a 21-11-4 record with a 2.10 GAA and a .931 save percentage, making him one of the league’s top netminders this season.
Head-to-Head Matchup
- Season Series: Minnesota won the first meeting between these teams on November 27, 2024, with a 1-0 victory in Buffalo. Kirill Kaprizov scored the lone goal, and Gustavsson recorded a 39-save shutout.
- Historical Record: The Wild hold a slight edge in the all-time series, with a record of 16-10-6 against the Sabres.
- Key Stats:
- Buffalo averages 3.10 goals per game but allows 3.52 goals per game, highlighting their defensive struggles.
- Minnesota averages 2.72 goals per game while conceding 2.80 goals per game, showcasing their defensive discipline.
- The Sabres’ power play ranks 26th in the league at 17.9%, while the Wild’s penalty kill ranks 31st at 71.4%, presenting an opportunity for Buffalo to capitalize.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres:
- Forwards:
- Peterka – Thompson – Tuch
- Greenway – McLeod – Zucker
- Murray – Krebs – Quinn
- Malenstyn – Lafferty – Kozak
- Defense:
- Samuelsson – Dahlin
- Power – Byram
- Bryson – Clifton
- Goaltender: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected starter)
Minnesota Wild:
- Forwards:
- Boldy – Rossi – Zuccarello
- Öhgren – Gaudreau – Nyquist
- Trenin – Hartman – Hinostroza
- Shore – Gaunce – Brazeau
- Defense:
- Middleton – Faber
- Chisholm – Spurgeon
- Bogosian – Nyquist
- Goaltender: Filip Gustavsson (expected starter)
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres:
- Josh Norris (undisclosed): Out.
- Jiri Kulich (concussion): Out.
Minnesota Wild:
- Kirill Kaprizov (lower body): Out since January 26.
- Jonas Brodin (upper body): Out.
- Marcus Foligno (lower body): Out.
Storylines to Watch
- Kaprizov’s Absence: The Wild have managed to stay competitive despite missing their star forward, thanks to contributions from Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek.
- Tage Thompson’s Scoring Surge: Thompson has been Buffalo’s most consistent offensive weapon and could exploit Minnesota’s struggling penalty kill.
- Filip Gustavsson’s Dominance: Gustavsson has been one of the league’s best goaltenders this season and will look to stifle Buffalo’s attack.
