Buffalo Sabres News

Stanley will play for the first time since November 17th as the Jets opt to play seven defensemen against the Hurricanes on Monday. He has no points in three games this season.

Lyon has undoubtedly been the Red Wings' best goaltender since making his debut several weeks ago and will start for the fifth time in their last eight games on Tuesday. In four games (3-1-0), Lyon has a sparkling 1.26 GAA and .958 SV%. His .750 quality start rate this season is through a very small sample size but seems mildly attainable given that he had a .714 QS% through 14 starts last season. The Red Wings have won five of their last six (5-1-0) and are -132 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has lost three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 14-7 in the process.

Tuch exited Sunday's game against the Nashville Predators after playing 16:19 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. A more detailed update should be provided for Tuch on Monday. The Sabres, already without Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn, and Jordan Greenway, can ill afford to lose Tuch, who has six points (3G / 3A) in his last six games.

The Avalanche will hand the reigns back over to Georgiev on Sunday after Ivan Prosvetov got the start in Anaheim on Saturday. Georgiev took the loss in his last start in Thursday's game in Arizona, allowing four goals on 32 shots in the 4-3 overtime defeat. He's struggled to find his form this season, posting an .897 SV% across a league leading 19 appearances. He has a difficult task ahead of him on Sunday with the Avs being slight road underdogs (+115) in Los Angeles.

Luukkonen will get the nod on Sunday after Eric Comrie got the start in Saturday's 6-2 defeat in Carolina. Luukkonen struggled his last time out, surrendering six goals on just 20 shots in a 6-4 loss at the hands of the Blues. The 24-year-old netminder has posted a .905 SV% and a 2.88 GAA to go along with his 6-4-1 record on the season.

Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.

Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.

Luukkonen has been a bright spot in an inconsistent season for the Sabres, as he will likely start for the second consecutive game on Thursday. With Devon Levi being sent down to the AHL, Luukkonen appears to be the favourite in the Sabres' goaltending tandem with him and Eric Comrie. Luukkonen is riding a three-game winning streak and has a sensational .942 SV% in his past five appearances (3-1-0). That said, the Sabres are still +112 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, who rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.86 GF / GP).

Kulich made his NHL debut on Saturday, playing 14:53 time-on-ice, recording zero points, one shot on goal, and a -1 plus/minus. He has been reassigned to the Rochester Americans of the AHL as the Sabres have recalled Brandon Biro.

Greenway has missed the last two games for the Sabres tending to a personal matter but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Through 19 games this season, Greenway has six points (2G / 4A), 19 penalty minutes, and 28 hits while averaging a career-high 17:08 time-on-ice. He has spent the majority of the season partnered with centerman Casey Mittelstadt.

With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.918 SV%) playing so well and Eric Comrie locking down the backup spot, Devon Levi has been loaned to Rochester (AHL) for more game action. The 21-year-old struggled through injuries so far this season with his 3-4-1 record, 3.73 GAA and .876 SV%. He will head to Rochester for the first time in his career after making the immediate leap to the NHL from the NCAA near the end of 2022-23.

Georgiev has started 17 games this season, most in the league, and will start for the 18th time on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a horrendous stretch in late October where he posted a .832 SV% in five games (1-4-0), Georgiev has rebounded nicely, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six games (5-1-0), posting a .903 SV%. The Avalanche rank third-best in the league in terms of shot suppression (27.7 SA / GP), so Georgiev's unspectacular save percentage is likely par for the course going forward. That said, Georgiev should continue to pile up victories, starting Monday as the Avalanche are -141 home favourites against the Lightning.

Kulich is set to sit on Monday as the Sabres appear to be opting to dress seven defensemen against the Rangers. The 2022 first-round pick has played just one game this season, registering no points and one shot on goal.