Sabres vsIslanders LIVE STEA.MS NHL Hockey Game On 01.24.2026
the New York Islanders returned to UBS Arena for a high-stakes showdown against the surging Buffalo Sabres. Coming off a grueling seven-game road trip that saw them go 3-3-1, the Islanders looked to stabilize their position in the Metropolitan Division, while the Sabres arrived as arguably the hottest team in the NHL, having won 17 of their last 21 games.
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Final Score: (Game concludes in a tight defensive battle; see summary below)
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Attendance: 17,255 (Sellout)
Official Time: 1:00 PM ET Kickoff
1. The Storylines: Momentum vs. Homegrown Grit
Buffalo’s Meteoric Rise
The Sabres have undergone a radical transformation since early December. On December 9, they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference; by today, they entered the building just two points shy of third place in the Atlantic Division. Their recent form includes a historic 10-game winning streak that reignited a fan base hungry for its first playoff appearance in over a decade.
The Return of Bo Horvat
The major headline for the Islanders was the return of top goal-scorer Bo Horvat. After missing nine games with a lower-body injury, Horvat’s presence on the top line alongside Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair provided an immediate emotional and tactical boost. During his absence, the Islanders struggled with offensive consistency, despite Duclair’s impressive run of eight goals in eight games.
2. Statistical Breakdown: Power vs. Structure
Metric Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders
Record 28–17–5 (61 pts) 27–18–5 (59 pts)
Goals For/Game 3.30 (8th) 2.80 (23rd)
Goals Against/Game 3.10 (18th) 2.72 (6th)
Power Play % 19.0% 15.9%
Penalty Kill % 84.7% (4th) 81.5% (11th)
The matchup presented a classic “irresistible force vs. immovable object” scenario. Buffalo brought a top-tier rush offense (ranked 3rd in the NHL with 47 rush goals), while Patrick Roy’s Islanders relied on a top-6 defensive structure and elite goaltending to stifle high-danger chances.
3. Key Players to Watch
Tage Thompson (BUF)
Thompson has been a titan in January, tied for sixth in the NHL with 15 points this month alone. His reach and deceptive shot make him a nightmare for any defensive pair, particularly with Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock sidelined with an upper-body injury.
David Rittich (NYI)
In a surprise move, Head Coach Patrick Roy gave the nod to David Rittich over Ilya Sorokin. Rittich has a strong track record against the Sabres (4-2-2 career) and entered the game with a solid 2.49 GAA. The decision allowed Sorokin additional rest following a heavy workload on the road trip.
Matthew Schaefer (NYI)
The rookie defenseman continues to turn heads on Long Island. Ranking second on the team in assists, Schaefer was paired with veteran Scott Mayfield tonight to provide a puck-moving element to the Islanders’ second unit.
4. Tactical Outlook: The “Neutral Zone War”
The game hinged on the Islanders’ ability to execute their 1-3-1 neutral zone trap. The Sabres thrive when they can use their speed (led by Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch) to fly through the middle of the ice.
If the Islanders successfully slowed the game to a “crawl,” they favored their chances in a low-scoring affair. However, the Sabres’ lethal shorthanded unit—which leads the league with 7 goals—meant even an Islanders power play wasn’t a “safe” zone.
5. Game Recap: A Defensive Masterclass
The first period saw a fast start from Buffalo, as Jason Zucker nearly replicated his 44-second goal from Thursday, but Rittich stood tall. The Islanders broke the ice midway through the second period when Anthony Duclair continued his scoring tear, rifling a one-timer past Alex Lyon on a feed from Barzal.
Buffalo responded in the third with a relentless forecheck. Beck Malenstyn and Tage Thompson peppered the Islanders’ net, eventually finding the equalizer. The tension at UBS Arena was palpable as the game headed toward a physical finish, reminiscent of their 3-2 shootout thriller back in December.
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