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Game Detail

Full game center with score context, period flow, scoring timeline, and goalie comparison.

Updated Jul 16, 5:35 PM ET

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Game Center

Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres

Jan 20, 2027 at 7:00 PM ET

UBS Arena, Elmont

UpcomingHomeRegular Season

NYI

New York Islanders

Puck Drop 7:00 PM ET

BUF

Buffalo Sabres

Game Preview

Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres

Jan 20, 2027 at 7:00 PM ET

UBS Arena, Elmont

UpcomingHomeRegular Season

New York (43-34-5) hosts Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9) at UBS Arena. The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 3 meetings left. Team-season data puts New York at 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP, while Buffalo Sabres sits at 3.45 GF/GP and 2.93 GA/GP. Goaltending leans toward I. Sorokin for New York and A. Lyon for Buffalo Sabres.

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 3 meetings left.I. Sorokin and A. Lyon anchor the strongest pregame edge in the feed.The probable starter duel should set the tone if either side gets a soft opening chance.

Preview assembled from NHL game-center feed · team season stats · season series · pregame matchup · standings · depth chart · injuries.

Quick Game Info

At a glance

Date

Jan 20, 2027

Puck Drop

7:00 PM

Venue

UBS Arena

Matchup

Islanders home

Game Type

Regular Season

Status

Upcoming

Tale of the Tape

Team profile

Record

Islanders

43-34-5

Opponent

50-23-9

Points

Islanders

Opponent

109

GF / GP

Islanders

2.79

Opponent

3.45

GA / GP

Islanders

2.88

Opponent

2.93

Power Play

Islanders

16.5%

Opponent

19.5%

Penalty Kill

Islanders

80.8%

Opponent

81.9%

Last 10

Islanders

Unavailable

Opponent

Unavailable

Projected Matchup Notes

Preview lens

Goalie outlook

Net front

I. Sorokin and A. Lyon anchor the strongest pregame edge in the feed.

Season profile

Tale of the tape

The numbers point to a contrast between New York's 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP and Buffalo Sabres's 3.45 GF/GP and 2.93 GA/GP.

Goalie watch

Net front

The league feed includes a probable-goalie view, so the starter decision is a major pregame hinge point.

Season Series

3 meetings left

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 3 meetings left.

Jan 19 vs Buffalo Sabres

Upcoming

Jan 19, 2027

Upcoming home game

Still on the schedule

Feb 2 vs Buffalo Sabres

Upcoming

Feb 2, 2027

Upcoming home game

Still on the schedule

Mar 20 vs Buffalo Sabres

Upcoming

Mar 20, 2027

Upcoming home game

Still on the schedule

Season-series order and status are sourced from the NHL game-center feed.

Key Storylines

Why this game matters

Story 01

Tale of the tape

Season profile

The numbers point to a contrast between New York's 2.79 GF/GP and 2.88 GA/GP and Buffalo Sabres's 3.45 GF/GP and 2.93 GA/GP.

Story 02

Net front

Goalie watch

The league feed includes a probable-goalie view, so the starter decision is a major pregame hinge point.

Story 03

Five on four

Special teams

The matchup has a built-in special-teams angle: New York's 16.5% power play and 80.8% penalty kill against Buffalo Sabres's 19.5% power play and 81.9% penalty kill.

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres snapshot

Buffalo Sabres

Snapshot

Buffalo Sabres snapshot for Buffalo Sabres.

Highlights

Recent form still warming up
T. Thompson leads points with 81
T. Thompson leads goals with 40
R. Dahlin leads assists with 55

Pressure points

19.5% PP, 81.9% PK, 3.45 GF/GP, 2.93 GA/GP

Player leaders and season stats come from the live game-center feed.

Islanders snapshot

New York Islanders

Snapshot

New York Islanders snapshot for NYI.

Highlights

Home-ice matchup with Buffalo Sabres
Recent form still warming up
M. Barzal leads points with 72
B. Horvat leads goals with 31

Pressure points

16.5% PP, 80.8% PK, 2.79 GF/GP, 2.88 GA/GP

Player leaders and season stats come from the live game-center feed.

Expected Lineup

Projected

Forward lines

Line 1

TBDTBDTBD

Line 2

TBDTBDTBD (Out)

Line 3

TBDTBDTBD

Line 4

TBDTBDTBD

Defense pairings

Pair 1

TBD (Day-to-Day)TBD

Pair 2

TBDTBD (IR)

Pair 3

TBDTBD

Goalies

TBDTBDTBD

Special teams

Power Play Unit 1

Power Play

TBDTBDTBDTBD (Out)TBD

Power Play Unit 2

Power Play

TBDTBDTBDTBDTBD

Penalty Kill Unit 1

Penalty Kill

TBDTBDTBD (Day-to-Day)TBD (IR)

Penalty Kill Unit 2

Penalty Kill

TBDTBDTBDTBD

Projected combinations update from recent usage and availability context.

Updated Jul 16, 11:24 AM

Injury / Availability

Availability

Mathew Barzal

Out

Mathew Barzal is listed as out on ESPN injury report.

Semyon Varlamov

Out

Varlamov (knee) has been returned from his conditioning role with AHL Bridgeport, per the AHL transaction log.

Kyle Palmieri

Out

Palmieri (knee) told reporters Wednesday that he should be ready to go for the start of training camp, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.

Ryan Pulock

Out

Pulock (undisclosed) will not play in Tuesday's home matchup versus Carolina.

Alexander Romanov

Out

Romanov (shoulder) will miss the final two games of the regular season, according to Stefen Rosner of NHL.com on Sunday.

Pierre Engvall

Out

Engvall (ankle) will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Depth-chart tags and current injury-report entries are surfaced together when available.

What to Watch

Fan guide

Goaltending swing

The probable starter duel should set the tone if either side gets a soft opening chance.

Top-line pressure

Home-ice matchup with Buffalo Sabres

Series leverage

The season series is 0-0 in New York's favor, with 3 meetings left.

Special teams

New York's 16.5% power play meets Buffalo Sabres's 81.9% penalty kill.