Buffalo Sabres Week in Review (Oct. 27 – Nov. 1)

Breanna McNeill
2 hours ago
5 min read

Photo Credit: Buffalo Sabres Multimedia Photo Galleries

The Buffalo Sabres picked up at least a point in all three of their games this week, falling in overtime to both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins before earning a shootout win over the Washington Capitals. With those results, Buffalo extended its season-high point streak to six games (3-0-3), dating back to their October 22 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Overall, the Sabres have now collected points in eight of their last nine contests (5-1-3).

Although still searching for their first overtime win of the season, the Sabres made the most of their first shootout opportunity. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all five Washington attempts, becoming just the third goaltender in franchise history – and the first since Jhonas Enroth on Nov. 29, 2014 – to face five or more shootout shots without allowing a goal.

Special teams have also been a bright spot. Buffalo’s penalty kill is now tied for first in the NHL at 90.5%, while their goaltenders collectively lead the league with a .943 save percentage while shorthanded.

The week also featured milestone moments, as Josh Dunne and Isak Rosen each scored their first NHL goals.

Thanks to their steady accumulation of points, the Sabres remain firmly in the mix in the competitive Atlantic Division, sitting just two points shy of third place.

Notable Player Performances:

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – 1–0, 2.79 GAA, .912 SV%
- Stopped all five shooters in the shootout
Alex Tuch – 3GP, 2G, 3A
- Has recorded 12 points (5G, 7A) in his last ten games
Josh Doan – 3GP, 2G, 1A
- Has posted nine points (4G, 5A) in as many games, includidng one point in three straight games
Tage Thompson – 3GP, 1G, 1A
- Has collected ten points (5G, 5A) in as many games, including six points in his last five.
Isak Rosen – 1GP, 1G
- Scored his first career NHL goal
Josh Dunne – 3GP, 1G
- Scored his first career NHL goal
Bowen Byram – 3GP, 1A
- Scored his first career shootout goal (ended up being the game-winner)

The Sabres will play three games again this week: Tuesday against JJ Peterka (his first return to Buffalo since the trade ) and the Utah Mammoth (8–4–0), Thursday against the St. Louis Blues (4–7–2) and then Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes (7–4–0). Buffalo will look to continue their above .500 trajectory – which is the first time the club has done that since November 29th, 2024.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the three games:

Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – Oct. 28th, 2025

Final/OT: 4 (CBJ) – 3 (BUF)

The Sabres dropped their first game of the week, and their second straight in overtime, falling 4–3 to the Blue Jackets.

Yegor Chinakhov opened the scoring early in the first period for Columbus, cutting in from the left circle and sliding the puck past a diving Alex Lyon.

Buffalo answered in the second when Josh Doan buried his own rebound in front to tie the game. Minutes later, Ryan McLeod gave the Sabres their first lead, banking a wrist shot off a Columbus defender and sneaking it under goaltender Jet Greaves’ arm.

The Blue Jackets struck back late in the frame, as Zach Werenski blasted a screened slapshot from the point on the power play to even things at 2–2 heading into the intermission.

Early in the third, Josh Dunne restored Buffalo’s lead with his first career NHL goal, poking a loose puck past a scrambling Greaves. But Columbus responded once again, with Miles Wood tipping home his first of the night to tie the game.

After regulation ended deadlocked, the contest moved to overtime. There, Wood delivered the winner and his second of the game, redirecting another shot past Lyon to seal the Blue Jackets’ victory.

Three Stars:

#1. Myles Wood (CBJ) – 2G

#2. Josh Dunne (BUF) – 1G

#3. Jet Greaves (CBJ) – .921 SV%

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins – Oct. 30th, 2025

Final/OT: 4 (BOS) – 3 (BUF)

The Sabres dropped their second game of the week, and their third straight in overtime, falling 4–3 to the Bruins despite a spirited comeback effort.

Boston built a 2–0 lead late in the first period with back-to-back goals. Morgan Geekie struck first on the power play, followed quickly by David Pastrnak, who finished off a 2-on-1 rush.

Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin cut the deficit in half late in the second period, blasting a screened power-play shot from above the circles. But the Bruins regained their two-goal cushion in the final seconds of the frame, when Mark Kastelic crashed the crease and jammed home a loose puck to make it 3–1.

However, the Sabres would claw back in the third. Josh Doan showcased his hand-eye coordination, batting down a rebound with his glove before firing it into the net to pull Buffalo within one. Minutes later, Alex Tuch tied the game with a wrist shot from the hashmarks, sending the contest to overtime for the third straight outing.

Buffalo controlled much of the extra frame, but a slip proved costly. Dahlin lost an edge in the offensive zone, allowing Fraser Minten to spring a 3-on-1 the other way. Marat Khusnutdinov finished the play, burying the game-winner for Boston.

Despite the loss, Buffalo outshot the Bruins 40–22, showing plenty of offensive push but once again coming up short in overtime.

Three Stars:

#1. Marat Khusnutdinov (BOS) – 1G

#2. David Pastrnak (BOS) – 1G, 1A

#3. Joonas Korpisalo (BOS) – .925 SV%

Buffalo Sabres vs. Washington Capitals – Nov. 1st, 2025

Final/SO: 4 (BUF) – 3 (BOS)

The Sabres finally came out on the right side of a 4–3 scoreline, snapping their skid with a shootout victory over the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center on Saturday night.

Buffalo once again found itself in an early hole, as Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas scored just 1:55 into the first period to give Washington a quick 2–0 lead.

But, the Sabres would respond with three unanswered goals before the intermission. Tage Thompson struck from the slot off a one-time feed moments after Protas’ tally, cutting the deficit in half. Alex Tuch tied the game midway through the frame with a backhand finish, and rookie Isak Rosen recorded his first NHL goal late in the period, snapping a wrist shot blocker-side from the circle to put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

The Capitals drew even in the final minute of the second period, when Sonny Milano redirected a point shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make it 3–3.

Neither side could break through in the third or overtime, sending Buffalo to its fourth straight extra session – this time ending in a shootout, their first of the season.

The opening three shooters for each team: Jack Quinn, Thompson, and Tuch for Buffalo; Strome, Anthony Beauvillier, and Connor McMichael for Washington – were all denied, with Luukkonen and Charlie Lindgren trading saves. Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Ovechkin were next, but both were turned aside as well.

It wasn’t until the fifth round that defenseman Bowen Byram broke the deadlock, cutting across the slot and beating Lindgren high short side for his first career shootout goal. With the game on the line, Washington rookie Ryan Leonard lost control of the puck on his attempt, sealing Buffalo’s 4–3 victory.

Three Stars:

#1. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) – .912 SV%

#2. Isak Rosen (BUF) – 1G

#3. Bowen Byram (BUF) – Shootout Winner