Sabres vs Islanders: Preview and Predictions for Saturday’s NHL Matchup

The Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders are set to face off on Saturday, December 1, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, in a crucial NHL matchup. The Islanders, currently on a three-game losing streak, aim to turn their fortunes around after a disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday. Despite leading 4-2 in the third period, the Islanders allowed the Capitals to come back and win in overtime.

The Sabres, meanwhile, are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday. They have been solid in recent games, winning four of their last six, and are just five points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Key players for the Islanders include Kyle Palmieri, who leads the team with 10 goals and nine assists, and Brock Nelson, who has five goals and five assists over the last 10 games. Simon Holmstrom also made a significant impact in their last game, scoring two goals against the Capitals.

For the Sabres, Tage Thompson is a standout with 11 goals and seven assists this season, while Rasmus Dahlin has contributed five goals and five assists over the past 10 games. The Sabres’ offense is averaging 3.2 goals per game, but they have struggled defensively, allowing 3.6 goals per contest.

The goaltending matchup is expected to feature Ilya Sorokin for the Islanders, who has a 2.70 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage this season. The Sabres are likely to start James Reimer, who has had a challenging season and will need to improve against the Islanders’ offense.

The game is the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Islanders winning the previous matchup 4-3 on November 1. The Islanders have struggled at home this season, which makes the Sabres an attractive underdog pick for this game.