BUFFALO SABRES NOTES:
LAST GAME
Saturday, Dec. 17
Buffalo 5 at Arizona 2
Goals: Skinner (2), Thompson, Jost, Okposo
Goalie: Anderson (29 saves/31 shots)
PP: 2/5; PK: 5/6; Shots: Buffalo 43 – Arizona 31
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 84)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Eric Comrie (Lower body, Nov. 19; IR) – 14 games
Ilya Lyubushkin (Lower body, Nov. 30; IR) – 9 games
Henri Jokiharju (Lower body, Dec. 10; IR) – 4 games
Jacob Bryson (Lower body, Dec. 15; IR) – 2 games
Owen Power (Undisclosed, Dec. 15) – 2 games
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST SEVEN DAYS
12/15: Acquired D Joseph Cecconi from the Dallas Stars in exchange for D Oskari Laaksonen; Assigned D Joseph Cecconi to Rochester (AHL); Activated F Vinnie Hinostroza off injured reserve 12/16: Recalled D Jeremy Davies from Rochester (AHL); Placed D Jacob Bryson on injured reserve
UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, Dec. 23: Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 27: Buffalo at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29: Detroit at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 31: Buffalo at Boston, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 1: Buffalo at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
TONIGHT’S GAME
SABRES at GOLDEN KNIGHTS
• This is the second and final meeting between the Sabres and the Golden Knights this season.
• Last meeting: Vegas defeated Buffalo 7-4 in Buffalo on Nov. 10, 2022.
• The Sabres are 3-4-2 in their last 9 games against the Golden Knights; 0-3-1 on the road.
• This is the 10th game all-time between Buffalo and Vegas; Buffalo has a 3-4-2 series record.
• The Sabres are 0-3-1 on the road against the Golden Knights all-time.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• A win in tonight’s game would give the Sabres their first winning streak of four or more games in 2022-23.
• A win would also mark the first time Buffalo has earned a victory against Vegas on the road.
• Tage Thompson has recorded 46 points (24+22) in his last 24 games, including 23 (12+11) in his last 10.
• A goal in tonight’s game would give Thompson a four-game goal streak, the longest of his career.
• If Thompson records multiple points in tonight’s game, he will become the 11th NHL skater, and the second Sabres skater (Dylan Cozens, Nov. 30 to Dec. 7), to record multiple points in four or more consecutive games in 2022-23.
• Dylan Cozens has tallied 23 points (7+16) in his last 18 games.
• Rasmus Dahlin has recorded 20 points (3+17) in his last 16 games, including multi-point efforts in each of his last two games.
• In his last 10 games, Jeff Skinner owns 21 points (10+11).
• Alex Tuch has notched 23 points (8+15) in his last 16 games and has recorded three assists in two of his last six games.
• Tyson Jost is riding a three-game point streak and has tallied three points (1+2) in that span.
• A point in tonight’s game would give Jost the longest point streak of his career.
LINE OF SUCCESSION
• Jeff Skinner (10 multi-point games), Tage Thompson (13 multi-point games) and Alex Tuch (eight multi-point games) have all recorded multiple points in at least eight games in 2022-23.
• In 2022-23, there have been three games (Nov. 22 at MTL, Dec. 7 at CBJ, Dec. 17 at ARI) in which Skinner, Thompson, and Tuch have all notched three or more points.
• There have been 25 instances of a Sabres skater tallying three or more points in a single game in 2022-23 and 16 of the 25 were recorded by Skinner, Thompson or Tuch.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Skinner, Thompson and Tuch owns a corsi for percentage of 55.90 and an expected goals for percentage of 51.80.
• When on the ice together, Skinner, Thompson and Tuch have recorded 18 goals and allowed 9 goals at 5-on-5
• The trio has recorded a combined 55 goals on the season, 44.72 percent of the 123 goals scored by Buffalo skaters in 2022-23.
• Skinner (two times), Thompson (three times) and Tuch (one time) are the only Sabres skaters who have recorded four or more points in a single game in 2022-23.
• Skinner (35 points, 15+20), Thompson (49 points, 25+24) and Tuch (34 points, 15+19) all rank in the top three in points among Sabres forwards.
• Among all NHL skaters with at least 10 games played, Skinner (3.67) and Thompson (3.65) rank first and second, respectively, in points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS TAGE
• Tage Thompson is one of four NHL skaters with multiple games of three or more goals and is the only player to record four or more goals in a single game (5, Dec. 7 at CBJ) in 2022-23.
• Thompson leads all NHL skaters in first-period goals (12).
• Thompson is the third-fastest Sabres skater to reach 25 goals in a single season (31 games).
• Only Pat LaFontaine (26 games, 1992-92) and Alexander Mogilny (28 games, 1992-93) reached 25 goals in fewer games.
• This season, Thompson tied the mark for the third-most goals scored (24) by a Sabres skater in their first 30 games of a season.
• Alexander Mogilny (30 in 1992-93), Pat LaFontaine (29 in 1991-92) and Thomas Vanek (24 in 2008-09) are the only Sabres skaters who have scored as many or more goals than Thompson in their first 30 games of a season with the Sabres.
• Thompson is one of nine skaters in NHL history who have recorded multiple games of three or more goals and six or more points in a single season.
• Thompson is the second skater in Sabres history to record multiple six-point games in a single season (Pat LaFontaine, 1991-92). He is the only Sabres skater to accomplish the feat within the team’s first 26 games of a season.
• Through Buffalo’s first 31 games, Thompson is on pace for 130 points and would become just the second Sabres skater to record 130 or more points in a single season (Pat LaFontaine, 148 points in 1992-93).
• Thompson is also on pace to score 66 goals in 2022-23, which would make him the second skater in franchise history to score 66 or more goals in a single season.
Alexander Mogilny’s 76 goals in 1992-93 is the only other instance of a Sabres skater recording more than 66 goals in a single season.
• Thompson leads all Sabres skaters in goals (25), points (49), even-strength goals (12), even-strength points (26), points per game (1.58), shots (143), power-play goals (12) and power-play points (22).
• Thompson recorded more power-play goals in the first 29 games of 2022-23 (11) than he did in 78 games in 2021-22 (10).
• Thompson ranks first among all Sabres forwards in time on ice per game (18:55) and is tied for the team lead in time on ice per shift (0:50).
• Entering play on Sunday, Thompson was tied for third among all NHL skaters with 143 shots on goal.
• Thompson owned the highest shooting percentage (17.5) among skaters with as many or more shots than him in 2022-23.
JINGLE RAS, JINGLE RAS
• Buffalo is 10-1-0 in games in which Rasmus Dahlin records multiple points in 2022-23.
• Dahlin is on pace for 100 points this season, which would shatter Phil Housley’s single-season franchise points record by a Sabres defenseman (81).
• Dahlin would become the first defenseman since Brian Leetch (102 points) in 1991-92 to record 100 or more points in a single season.
• Among NHL defensemen, Dahlin ranked second in points per game (1.23), tied for second in goals (10), second in points (37), first in power-play points (20), tied for second in power-play goals (4), tied for third in assists (27), and third in time on ice per game (26:06).
• Dahlin has recorded at least one point in 24 of his 30 games played in 2022-23.
• Dahlin (782:46) is the only Sabres skater who has logged more than 700 minutes of ice time through the team’s first 31 games.
• Entering play on Sunday, only three skaters in the NHL had skated more minutes than Dahlin in 2022-23, and each of them had played at least two more games on the season.
THE KIDS TABLE
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the line combination consisting of Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn has produced 42 high-danger scoring chances and 94 scoring chances in 148:52 of ice time at 5-on-5 when playing together in 2022-23.
• Cozens (21), Peterka (20) and Quinn (21) are all 21 years of age or younger and entering play on Sunday, Cozens and Quinn were two of the eight NHL skaters aged 21 or younger who had recorded a point streak of five or more games in 2022-23.
• Quinn was one of two rookies who had recorded a point streak of six or more games this season.
• Quinn’s six-game point streak (Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, 2022) was the 34th point streak of six or more games by a Sabres skater aged 21 or younger and the first since Rasmus Dahlin recorded a six-game point streak from Feb. 9 to 22, 2020.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the line’s expected goals for percentage is 60.25 and their corsi for percentage is 52.67 at 5-on5.
• Entering play on Sunday, Cozens (31 points) was one of two NHL skaters aged 21 or younger to record 30 or more points in 2022-23.
• Cozens (Dec. 1 to 7, 2022) became one of 19 NHL skaters aged 21 or younger, and the first since Erik Karlsson (Jan. 20 to Feb. 25, 2012), to record three or more points in three consecutive games at least one time.
• Cozens has recorded three or more points on four occasions this season.
SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 12/19 games)
• Buffalo Sabres: 123 GF (1st), 3.97 GF/GP (1st), 30.0 PP% (2nd), 32.6 S/GP (T-9th)
• Rasmus Asplund: 1 SHG (T-10th)
• Dylan Cozens: 1 SHG (T-10th), 2 SHP (T-6th)
• Rasmus Dahlin: 27 A (T-7th), 26:06 TOI/GP (3rd), 20 PPP (T-4th)
• Casey Mittelstadt: 1 SHG (T-10th)
• Victor Olofsson: 1 OTG (T-9th)
• Tage Thompson: 25 G (2nd), 49 P (3rd), 1.58 P/GP (3rd), 26 EVP (T-8th), 12 PPG (3rd), 22 PPP (3rd), 1 SHG (T-10th), 4 GWG (T-7th), 143 S (T-3rd)
• Alex Tuch: 4 GWG (T-7th)
SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Shots: Thompson (143), Dahlin (96), Skinner (92)
Hits: Samuelsson (45), Dahlin (44), Lyubushkin (36)
Blocked Shots: Dahlin (50), Bryson (38), Power (37)
SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK]
1-10: 7-3-0 (14), 43/28, 9/38, 25/32
11-20: 2-8-0 (4), 32/42, 12/42, 23/34
21-30: 5-3-2 (12), 43/35, 13/34, 26/35
31-40: 1-0-0 (2), 5/2, 2/5, 5/6
OVERTIME RESULTS (1-2; 131-148 all-time)
Oct. 29 vs. CHI: W, 4-3 (GWG-Olofsson)
Nov. 28 vs. TBL: L, 6-5 (GWG-Stamkos)
Dec. 9 vs. PIT: L, 4-3 (GWG-Carter)
SHOOTOUT RESULTS (1-0; 85-77 all-time)
Nov. 30 at DET: W, 5-4 (GWG-Quinn)
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES:
GOLDEN KNIGHTS UPCOMING GAMES
Golden Knights 2022-23 Record: 22-10-1, 45 points (8-8-0 at Home, 14-2-1 on Road)
DATE OPPONENT TELEVISION RADIO SPANISH RADIO
Dec. 19 vs. Buffalo Sabres AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Dec. 21 vs. Arizona Coyotes AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Dec. 23 vs. St. Louis Blues AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
Dec. 27 at Los Angeles Kings AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM None
Dec. 28 at Anaheim Ducks AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM None
GOLDEN KNIGHTS LAST GAME RECAP
December 17 – Vegas Golden Knights 2, New York Islanders
The Vegas Golden Knights (22-10-1) were defeated by the New York Islanders (18-13-1) during their return to Vegas on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. With just one minute remaining in the first period, Anders Lee opened the scoring for the Islanders. Reilly Smith then tied things up at 1-1 with a power play goal one minute into the middle frame. Hudson Fasching responded a few minutes later, putting the Islanders ahead 2-1. Just before the end of the period, Simon Holmstrom extended the Islanders’ lead to 3-1. In the third period, Smith notched his second power-play goal of the game to bring the Golden Knights within one. Brcok Nelson and Zach Parise scored empty-net goals to give the Islanders the 5-2 win.
LAST GAME BY THE NUMBERS
- Smith’s multi-goal performance was his fourth of the season and second in back-to-back games for the second time this season
- Vegas drops to 22-10-1 on the season and 8-8-0 at home
Smith on Top
Reilly Smith netted two power play goals on Saturday night against the New York Islanders to take the lead in goals scored by a Vegas player. Smith now owns 16 goals this season and he became the sixth Golden Knight to have two power play goals in a game.
Easy Steph-y
Chandler Stephenson broke his 16-game goal drought after scoring in Vegas’ win over Chicago on Thursday. Stephenson has seven points in the last three games (1-6—7) including his four assists in Winnipeg last Tuesday to tie his career high and the road record for VGK (last Stone 2/23/20). Stephenson leads the club in helpers with 22 on the season (T-10th for NHL forwards) and he is tied for first in overall points on the team with 29 through 33 games. Stephenson’s 62.2 faceoff win percentage ranks second in the NHL among all qualified skaters.
The Shorty King
Reilly Smith netted his fourth shorthanded goal of the season at Chicago on Thursday night, which leads the league. Vegas has the second most shorthanded goals by a team with five this season. Smith’s 12 shorthanded goals since joining Vegas in 2017-18 are the most in franchise history.
Aye-Aye Captain
Mark Stone reached the 500 point milestone last Tuesday when he tallied two goals in Winnipeg. It took Stone 572 games to reach the feat with 191 goals and 309 assists to total the 500 mark. The captain added to his 500 points when he had the primary assist on Stephenson’s goal against Chicago on Thursday. Stone’s multi-goal performance against the Jets was his second of the season and he has eight points in his last 11 games (4-4—4). Stone’s 12 goals are just two off the team lead of 14, and he ranks fourth in scoring for Vegas on the season (12-13—25).
Vegas Golden Knights: Media Notes
Heating Up
Jonathan Marchessault scored back-to-back power play goals against the Jets on Tuesday to give Vegas the third period lead. Marchessault’s power play goals mark the fifth time a VGK player has scored two in a game; he is the only player to have done it twice with the club (last 2/13/20). Both of Marchessault’s goals came in the third period, making him the second Golden Knight to have two man-up tallies in the same period (Paul Stastny 10/13/19). The forward now has six goals in six games, coming off a four game goal streak (Dec. 3-9) that ended on Sunday in a 3-1 decision to Boston. This was the first time of his career that Marchessault had a four-game goal streak.
Martinez Block Party
Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez leads the NHL with 123 blocked shots in 33 games and is the first player in the league to reach the century mark this season. Martinez has led the team in blocked shots in 21 of 33 games.
Spreading the Wealth
Eight Golden Knights have recorded 20 or more points this season, which is the most of any team in the league. Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson lead the club with 29 points, followed by, Jonathan Marchessault with 26 points and Mark Stone with 25 points.
Golden Knights Point Leaders
- Jack Eichel – 29 (13G, 16A)
Chandler Stephenson – 29 (7G, 22A) - Jonathan Marchessault – 26 (14G, 12A)
- Mark Stone – 25 (12G, 13A)
- Reilly Smith – 24 (16G, 8A)
- William Karlsson – 22 (7G, 15A)
Shea Theodore – 22 (4G, 18A)
Alex Pietrangelo – 22 (3G, 19A)
Hot Streaks
Chandler Stephenson (1-6—7) – 4 games
Reilly Smith (4-2—6) – 3 games
Against the Sabres
This marks the second of two meetings between Vegas and Buffalo for the 2022-23 season. The Golden Knights hold an all-time record of 6-3-0 against the Sabres in nine meetings. The last time Vegas faced Buffalo, the club dominated the Sabres 7-4 at KeyBank Center. Jack Eichel had his third career hat trick to sink his former team while Chandler Stephenson, Phil Kessel, Paul Cotter and Alex Pietrangelo all also found the back of the net.
2022-23 Season BUF Series: 1-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0, Road: 1-0-0)
Nov. 10 – at Buffalo (Vegas 7, Buffalo 4)
Dec. 19 – at Vegas
2021-22 Season BUF Series: 1-1-0 (Home: 1-0-0, Road: 0-1-0)
Feb. 1 – at Vegas (Vegas 5, Buffalo 2)
Mar. 10 – at Buffalo (Vegas 1, Buffalo 3)
