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New York Islanders 2, Buffalo Sabres 3: final score and stats

Buffalo Sabres beat New York Islanders, New York Islanders 2 to Buffalo Sabres 3, on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. Below: the box score, top performers, team stats, injuries and recent form for Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders.

NHLSaturday, December 20, 2025
DateDec 20, 2025
Start time5:00 PM ET
VenueKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
TVESPN+
Attendance19,070

Line score

Team123OT1OT2T
New York Islanders011002
Buffalo Sabres110013

Top performers

New York Islanders
GoalsMathew Barzal · 1
AssistsMathew Barzal · 1
PointsMathew Barzal · 2
Buffalo Sabres
GoalsRasmus Dahlin · 1
AssistsAlex Lyon · 1
PointsTage Thompson · 1

Team comparison

New York IslandersBuffalo Sabres
Goals per game
2.9
2.9
Goals allowed per game
3.1
3.6
19-13-4Record16-14-4
5th in Metropolitan DivisionStanding6th in Atlantic Division
3-5Road record / home record4-6
LLLLWLast 5LLWLW
L4StreakL2

Team stats

New York IslandersBuffalo Sabres
Blocked Shots
8
11
Hits
25
18
Takeaways
4
5
Shots
34
32
Power Play Goals
1
1
Power Play Opportunities
3
4
Power Play Percentage
33.3
25.0
Short Handed Goals
0
0
Shootout Goals
0
0
Faceoffs Won
33
27
Faceoff Win Percent
55.0
45.0
Giveaways
21
18
Total Penalties
4
3
Penalty Minutes
8
6

Injury report

Confirm lineups and injuries close to game time.

New York Islanders
Matias Maccelli LW · Lower Body
Injured Reserve
Mathew Barzal C · Knee
Injured Reserve
Ryan Pulock D · Upper Body
Out
Calum Ritchie C · Lower Body
Injured Reserve
Alexander Romanov D · Knee - Surgery
Injured Reserve
Buffalo Sabres
Alex Lyon G · Shoulder
Injured Reserve
Konsta Helenius C · Upper Body
Out
Justin Danforth RW · Upper Body
Injured Reserve
Matt Grzelcyk D · Lower Body
Injured Reserve

Box score

New York Islanders Forwards

PlayerBSHTTK+/-TOIPPTOISHTOIESTOISHFTGYTDGASSMSOGFWFLFO%GVPNPIM
Mathew Barzal101123:332:020:1421:172311014107653.8212
Casey Cizikas220016:180:084:2811:42230300105935.7000
Jonathan Drouin000-117:162:030:0015:13210300105183.3200
Anthony Duclair000010:481:030:009:45160400001233.3100
Marc Gatcomb030011:140:000:0011:1416010120000.0000
Emil Heineman140-118:491:430:2016:462211201000000.0100
Simon Holmstrom001117:491:062:3414:0924061240000.0000
Anders Lee010120:042:280:0517:31210910101150.0200
Kyle MacLean110013:550:002:1511:4018010000000.0000
Jean-Gabriel Pageau010-115:340:002:4212:52250603209469.2012
Calum Ritchie000012:571:440:0011:13180402002433.3100
Maxim Tsyplakov010012:081:120:0010:561601011030100.0000

New York Islanders Defenses

PlayerBSHTTK+/-TOIPPTOISHTOIESTOISHFTGYTDGASSMSOGFWFLFO%GVPNPIM
Tony DeAngelo020022:551:150:0221:3826010320000.0300
Scott Mayfield120117:480:002:5714:5126010100000.0100
Adam Pelech040126:250:123:2422:4930010120000.0212
Ryan Pulock120-120:180:004:2915:4926010210000.0200
Matthew Schaefer112-123:362:001:5019:4627091310000.0200
Marshall Warren01009:510:000:009:5118000100000.0112

New York Islanders Goalies

PlayerGASASOSSOSASVSV%ESSVPPSVSHSVTOIYTDGPIM
David Rittich2320030.938255062:3900

Buffalo Sabres Forwards

PlayerBSHTTK+/-TOIPPTOISHTOIESTOISHFTGYTDGASSMSOGFWFLFO%GVPNPIM
Zach Benson001018:255:060:2612:5320020220000.0200
Josh Doan000019:095:260:0013:43220101220000.0100
Josh Dunne110010:200:000:0010:20130101103260.0200
Jordan Greenway01009:330:000:279:061301010010100.0000
Peyton Krebs130013:290:000:0013:29170010002340.0000
Beck Malenstyn15008:550:000:008:5513030110000.0012
Ryan McLeod010017:061:102:4113:152406000021313.3200
Josh Norris002019:395:060:0014:33220302003633.3200
Noah Ostlund001014:420:000:0014:421905010030100.0100
Jack Quinn000015:241:030:0014:2119070230000.0100
Tage Thompson000022:485:210:0817:1925118040012763.2000
Alex Tuch110021:060:542:3417:382301105201233.3112

Buffalo Sabres Defenses

PlayerBSHTTK+/-TOIPPTOISHTOIESTOISHFTGYTDGASSMSOGFWFLFO%GVPNPIM
Bowen Byram130022:491:140:3820:5725060110000.0100
Rasmus Dahlin010125:525:450:0020:0729140510000.0000
Michael Kesselring310-117:280:001:3715:5124000210000.0112
Zach Metsa000014:050:000:0014:0515000100000.0200
Owen Power200-117:050:351:3914:5122030210000.0100
Mattias Samuelsson111124:120:002:3321:3927050000000.0000

Buffalo Sabres Goalies

PlayerGASASOSSOSASVSV%ESSVPPSVSHSVTOIYTDGPIM
Alex Lyon2340032.941310164:5500

Recent form

Nov 9, 2026 · at San Jose SharksL 2-3
Nov 7, 2026 · vs New Jersey DevilsL 4-5
Nov 5, 2026 · vs Carolina HurricanesL 3-5
Oct 31, 2026 · vs Edmonton OilersL 0-4
Oct 29, 2026 · at Minnesota WildW 4-3
Nov 11, 2026 · vs Tampa Bay LightningL 3-8
Nov 8, 2026 · vs Vegas Golden KnightsL 1-4
Nov 6, 2026 · vs Columbus Blue JacketsW 5-2
Nov 4, 2026 · vs Ottawa SenatorsL 1-2
Oct 31, 2026 · at Los Angeles KingsW 3-2

Season series

BUF leads series 1-0
Mar 31, 2026NYI 3, BUF 4
Jan 24, 2026BUF 5, NYI 0
Dec 20, 2025NYI 2, BUF 3

Team pages

More NHL games on Dec 20, 2025

Frequently asked questions

Who won New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres?

Buffalo Sabres won, 3-2, on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

What was the final score of New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres?

New York Islanders 2, Buffalo Sabres 3.

Who were the top performers?

New York Islanders: Mathew Barzal (1 goals). Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin (1 goals).

Where is New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres played?

KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY.

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Independent analysis for information and entertainment. Not betting advice. Scores, schedules, records and injuries can change.