Buffalo Sabres News

Georgiev will look to rebound after allowing a season-worst seven goals on 34 shots in a 7-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Georgiev started the season by saving 109 of 113 shots (.965 SV%) in his first four outings (4-0-0) but has since fallen off a cliff, allowing 22 goals on 145 shots (.848 SV%) in his five games since (2-3-0). The Avalanche have been shut out in three of their last four games (1-3-0) but are still -178 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that is expected to be without both of their top two centermen, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.

Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but appears to be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.

Georgiev finds himself in the midst of a rare two-game losing streak after he allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his previous start and will take the crease Saturday for a juggernaut battle in Vegas. The 27-year-old has gotten off to a fantastic start in 2023-24, with his 6-2-0 record, .915 SV% and 2.40 GAA. He takes on the red-hot Vegas Golden Knights, who have yet to concede a point in regular time (10-0-1) and are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (3.64).

Samuelsson played just 2:28 TOI before leaving Friday's game vs. the Flyers with a lower-body injury. If he's unavailable for Saturday's game in Toronto, look for Jacob Bryson to re-enter the Sabres' lineup.

Luukkonen will be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Benson has missed five of the last seven games with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve, retroactive to October 29th. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Luukkonen appears to be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Jones was a precautionary call-up by the Avalanche on Wednesday but did not make it into the lineup as, game-time decisions Cale Makar and Bowen Byram were both deemed fit to play. Jones has now been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL where he has four points (0G / 4A) in eight games.

Devon Levi has officially returned to the Sabres' lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury but will serve as the backup, at least for his first game, to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen didn't get his chance to be the number-one goaltender in Buffalo until Eric Comrie (lower-body) also went down with an injury but has filled in admirably after being called upon. Coming off his best performance thus far, a 23-save shutout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, Luukkonen has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Sabres are slight +101 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has done a decent job finding the back of the net, averaging 3.33 goals per game so far this season (4-4-1).

Grzelcyk suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of the Bruins' 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday and has been placed on long-term injured reserve. Grzelcyk would have been a candidate to see a bump in playing time with Charlie McAvoy (suspension) out of the lineup for the next four games but instead, those duties will likely fall to Hampus Lindholm and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Bruins have also recalled defensemen Mason Lohrei, Ian Mitchell and Parker Wotherspoon.

Benson has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for three of the Sabres' last five games and has now been given a week-to-week designation. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Jones was recalled from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, where he has four points (0G / 4A) in eight games this season. The Texas-born defenseman has yet to play at the NHL level this season after playing 73 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, recording 16 points (4G / 12A).

Grzelcyk suffered an upper-body injury on Monday and is expected to be out of the lineup for a couple of weeks. In nine games this season, Grzelcyk has only one point (1G / 0A) and 12 shots while averaging 15:15 time-on-ice.

Georgiev will get the nod in net for the Avalanche for the eighth time in as many games. Georgiev and the Avs suffered their first loss of the season last time out after they were shut out by the Penguins on Thursday. The 27-year-old netminder will be looking to bounce back after giving up four goals on just 24 shots in the losing effort. Despite the poor performance on Thursday, Georgiev remains one of the most effective and reliable goaltenders in fantasy hockey. He owns a .918 SV% and a 2.31 GAA to go along with his 6-1-0 record and has a great chance of notching a league-leading seventh victory today with the Avalanche being -175 road favourites.

With Eric Comrie and Devon Levi both still unavailable due to lower-body injuries, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Sunday. Luukkonen stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in relief of Comrie in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder will need to string together some stronger performances if he wants to continue challenging for starts following the returns of Levi and Comrie. Luukkonen owns an .881 SV% and a 4.78 GAA through two appearances this season.

Georgiev will get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).

Georgiev is expected to get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).

Georgiev will start again for the Avalanche as they both look to improve to 6-0-0 on the season. Georgiev has been nothing short of spectacular, boasting a 1.58 GAA and .943 SV%, both league-best among goalies that have played at least four games. The Avalanche are -132 road favourites against a New York Islanders team that has the seventh-worst offensive in the league, averaging only 2.25 goals per game.