Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Buffalo Sabres News

Buffalo has recalled Zac Jones from Rochester (AHL).

With Ramus Dahlin (persona) away from the team, Jones has earned his second call-up of the season but is still awaiting his first NHL action of the season. The 25-year-old defenseman posted career highs in games played (46), points (11), PIMs (24) and SOG (51) with the New York Rangers last season.

Zac Jones
Benson (lower-body) has a chance to return on Wednesday vs. Utah.

Benson has not played since October 30th due to a lower-body injury, but has returned to practice, and could play on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 20-year-old Benson was off to a hot start before his injury, scoring eight points (0G / 8A) through eight games.

Zach Benson
Dahlin (personal) is taking a leave of absence from the Sabres to return to Sweden and is out indefinitely.

Sabres' head coach Lindy Ruff announced that Dahlin will be away from the team indefinitely to tend to personal matters in Sweden. The 25-year-old Dahlin has nine points (1G / 8A), 17 blocks, 12 hits, and a -11 plus/minus through 14 games this season. Expect Owen Power to see an uptick in ice time, including likely taking over the role as the quarterback on the team's top powerplay unit.

Rasmus Dahlin
Kozak (lower-body) will play against the Blues on Thursday.

Kozak has not played since October 24th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Kozak is averaging 9:52 time-on-ice, recording 19 hits and two goals in seven games.

Tyson Kozak
Kozak (lower-body) is expected to return to Buffalo's lineup vs. St. Louis on Thursday.

Kozak has not played since October 24th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Kozak is averaging 9:52 time-on-ice, recording 19 hits and two goals in seven games.

Tyson Kozak
Kozak (lower-body) has a chance to return to Buffalo's lineup on Thursday vs. St. Louis.

Kozak has not played since October 24th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Kozak is averaging 9:52 time-on-ice, recording 19 hits and two goals in seven games.

Tyson Kozak
Luukkonen will start vs. St. Louis on Thursday.

Luukkonen has started two of Buffalo's last five games since making his season debut, returning from an off-season lower-body injury. The 26-year-old Luukkonen played well in his most recent outing to secure his first victory, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals. He has a 3.34 GAA and .877 SV% in two games this season (2-0-1). Luukkonen returns to the crease on Thursday, facing a St. Louis Blues team playing the tail end of a back-to-back.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Lyon will start vs. Utah on Tuesday.

Lyon did not play in Buffalo's previous game, but he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth. After an outstanding start to the season, posting a 2.40 GAA and .929 SV% in five games (2-3-0), Lyon's game has tailed off slightly, posting a 3.50 GAA and .889 SV% in his last four games (1-1-2). The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as +121 home underdogs against an 8-4-0 Mammoth team that is currently in a two-game losing skid.

Alex Lyon
Kozak (lower-body) is a possibility to return on Thursday vs. St. Louis.

Kozak has not played since October 24th, recovering from a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year-old Kozak is averaging 9:52 time-on-ice, recording 19 hits and two goals in seven games.

Tyson Kozak
Zucker (illness) has been placed on IR.

Zucker is battling an illness and has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to November 1st. He will miss at least two games before he is eligible to return to the lineup. The 33-year-old Zucker is averaging 14:44 time-on-ice, recording seven points (4G / 3A), 15 hits, and 27 shots in 12 games this season.

Jason Zucker
Ostlund has been recalled from Rochester (AHL).

Ostlund was drafted 16th-oveall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft but has yet to establish himself as a full-time presence in the NHL. The 21-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he scored 36 points (19G / 17A) in 45 games with the Rochester Americans.

Noah Ostlund
Lyon is in the starter's crease at Buffalo's morning skate.

Lyon did not play in Buffalo's previous game, but he will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth. After an outstanding start to the season, posting a 2.40 GAA and .929 SV% in five games (2-3-0), Lyon's game has tailed off slightly, posting a 3.50 GAA and .889 SV% in his last four games (1-1-2). The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as +121 home underdogs against an 8-4-0 Mammoth team that is currently in a two-game losing skid.

Alex Lyon
Kulich (undisclosed) did not practice on Monday after leaving last game with an injury and is doubtful vs. Utah on Tuesday.

Kulich exited Buffalo's most recent game, a 4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals, after only 11:19 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. The 21-year-old Czech forward has five points (3G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

Jiri Kulich
Zucker (illness) missed practice on Monday and is doubtful vs. Utah on Tuesday.

Zucker is battling an illness and is unlikely to play on Tuesday after being absent from practice on Monday. The 33-year-old Zucker is averaging 14:44 time-on-ice, recording seven points (4G / 3A), 15 hits, and 27 shots in 12 games this season.

Jason Zucker
Lyon will start on Thursday in Boston.

After a disappointing 0-3-0 start to the 2025-26 season, the Sabres have turned the script, going 4-1-2 in their last five, due in part to strong goaltending from Alex Lyon, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old Lyon has given his Sabres team a chance almost every night, posting a solid 2.77 GAA and .919 SV% in eight games (3-4-1). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -115 road favorites against a Bruins team that is 2-7-0 in their last nine.

Alex Lyon