Sabres Preseason Report: Oct. 3, 2025

Breanna McNeill
Oct 6
2 min read

Photo Credit: Buffalo Sabres Multimedia Photo Galleries

Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Final: 5 (PIT) - 4 (BUF) (OT)

The Buffalo Sabres closed out their preseason with a 5–4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They finish exhibition play with a 3–2–1 record, tallying 20 goals for, 18 against, a 5-for-21 mark on the power play, and a 10-for-16 penalty kill.

Philip Tomasino opened the scoring for Pittsburgh in the first period, and the Penguins carried that lead into a busy second frame. Tage Thompson tied the game with a one-timer from the slot, sparking a surge for Buffalo. Jiri Kulich struck twice and Jason Zucker added a power-play goal, while Harrison Brunicke netted the lone Penguins goal of the period, giving the Sabres a two-goal cushion heading into the third.

The final stretch, however, belonged to Pittsburgh. Rickard Rakell cut the deficit before Sidney Crosby took over, scoring both the tying goal and the overtime winner to complete the comeback.

Goaltending duties were split, with Alex Lyon playing the first 40 minutes before Alexandar Georgiev entered in relief. The tandem combined for 25 saves.

Sabres Roster:

Forwards: Josh Norris, Justin Danforth, Jason Zucker, Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich, Jack Quinn, Beck Malenstyn, Tyson Kozak, Ryan McLeod, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Josh Doan

Defenseman: Bowen Byram, Conor Timmins, Ryan Johnson, Zach Metsa, Vsevolod Komarov, Jacob Bryson

Goaltenders: Alex Lyon, Alexandar Georgiev

Three Stars:

#1. Sidney Crosby (PIT) – 2G

#2. Rickard Rakell (PIT) – 1G, 1A

#3. Jiri Kulich (BUF) – 2G

With the exhibition slate complete, the Sabres now turn their attention to the regular season. They’ll open at home against the New York Rangers, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. at the Keybank Center.

Notable Injury Updates:

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G): Considered week-to-week, will be re-evaluated in a “week or so”
Michael Kesselring (D): Considered week-to-week, will be re-evaluated in a “week or so”
Mattias Samuelsson (D): Re-aggravated previous injury; day-to-day (practiced with the team)
Jordan Greenway (F): Progressing; expected to be out until at least Oct. 11
Owen Power (D): Strain; status is day-to-day
Zach Benson (F): Undisclosed injury; status is day-to-day (practiced with the team)

Transactions (Sept. 27 - Oct. 6):

Placed on waivers: Jack Rathbone (D), Jake Leschyshyn (F), Zac Jones (D), Josh Dunne (F)
Released: Trevor Kuntar (F), Graham Slaggert (F), Brendan Warren (F), Noah Laaouan (D), Peter Tischke (D)
Sent to Rochester (AHL): Konsta Helenius (F), Riley Fiddler-Schultz (F), Anton Wahlberg (F), Isak Rosen (F), Olivier Nadeau (F), Zachary Metsa (D), Isaac Belliveau (F), Nikita Novikov (D), Viktor Neuchev (F), Scott Ratzlaff (G), Devon Levi (G), Jack Rathbone (D), Vsevolod Komarov (D), Radim Mrtka (D), Noah Ostlund (F)
Claimed off waivers: Colten Ellis (G)