The Buffalo Sabres enter this season with a simple expectation in their meetings with the New York Islanders: win, and win often.
That’s the backdrop in TheHockeyNews.com’s “Know Your Enemy” series, which has been tracking how Buffalo stacks up against its Eastern Conference opponents. In this installment, the focus is on the Islanders, a team that didn’t do much in the offseason but still has one clear bright spot in young defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
The Sabres were one of the NHL’s best teams last season, finishing first in the Atlantic Division before knocking off the Boston Bruins in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their run ended in Round 2 against the Montreal Canadiens, but the bigger story was Buffalo finally putting an end to a playoff drought that had stretched for a decade and a half.
Now comes the part where good teams separate themselves from the pack. Buffalo plays all of its games against the Islanders during an eight-week stretch, with two of those matchups coming on the road. By that point in the season, there should be no room for the Sabres to let the Islanders hang around.
The warning here is straightforward: teams can lose ground fast by dropping points against opponents they’re expected to handle. If Buffalo slips up too often in these games, it could spend the end of the regular season chasing home-ice advantage or even fighting just to stay in the playoff picture. In a tight standings race, a few wasted points can make a huge difference.
The Islanders, to be clear, are not being described as a soft touch. But their age and lack of depth are major concerns, and those are the kinds of issues that usually keep a team from climbing to the top of the league. Buffalo, according to this assessment, should have the edge in every meeting, including all three games against New York this season.
In Other News...
Sabres' Goalie Search Just Got More Interesting Than Fans Realized
The Sabres offseason search for help in net apparently had a bigger name attached to it than most fans realized. On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman said Buffalo and the Florida Panthers both checked in on Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, with the Jets seeking a goalie back and signaling they were not interested in dealing him for future assets. Buffalos interest was part of a broader push that also saw offers built around draft picks and players, but nothing got across the line before training camp.
For the Sabres, its another reminder of how aggressive the front office has been trying to be at a position that can define a season. The conversation around Winnipeg did not stop with Buffalo and Florida, either, since Carolina has also been linked to a possible move involving Alexander Nikishin, though questions linger there as well. For now, the Hellebuyck thread is the one that stands out, because it suggests Buffalo at least explored a swing for a proven starter if the price and terms had lined up just right. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Goalie Picture Gets Tense As Luukkonen Addresses Trade Chatter
Trade talk always follows a goalie when a team starts sniffing around the market, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has found himself in that familiar spot with Buffalo this summer. His name has been pulled into speculation tied to the Sabres pursuit of Connor Hellebuyck, but Luukkonen said he is simply turning his attention toward the coming season and the role he has in front of him.
The wrinkle for Buffalo is that the crease already looks crowded. The Sabres are expected to carry three goalies, with Luukkonen and Alex Lyon likely splitting the bulk of the work while Colten Ellis remains in the mix. Even with the chatter surrounding his future, Luukkonens situation appears more about managing a tense depth chart than waiting on an imminent move. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Just Got A Familiar Rival That Much Tougher
The Sabres handled the Rangers well enough last season, winning two of the three meetings, but the backdrop around that rivalry is about to look different. New York is heading into 2026-27 with a roster that should be sturdier and harder to play against, especially on the back end, which matters for a Buffalo team that has to navigate the division grind and keep pace in a tighter race.
For the Sabres, the familiar edge of facing a familiar opponent is still there, but the matchup itself may not be as comfortable. Buffalo is still projected to come out ahead in the season series, yet the expectation is that it will take more work than it did a year ago, with the Rangers bringing more depth and more answers than they had before. [Read more 🡒]