⚔️ 🏝️
2025-26 regular season

Sabres at Islanders

🗓 📍 UBS Arena, Elmont 🔁 Sabres lead the season series 2–0

Sabres beat Islanders 5–0 at UBS Arena on January 24, 2026.

BUF – NYI
21–26
Shots on goal
16–24
Hits
11–13
Blocked shots
7–5
Takeaways
⚔️ Head-to-head

The game

The stars, every goal, the box score and the recap
Head-to-head →

Three stars

Best games by the box score
1st star ⚔️ BUF
Jason Zucker
2 G
3 shots · 13:44 TOI
2nd star ⚔️ BUF
Ryan McLeod
2 A
1 shots · 18:14 TOI
3rd star ⚔️ BUF
Mattias Samuelsson
2 A
1 shots · 21:32 TOI

Scoring

5 goals · in order
2nd period
⚔️ Jason Zucker Go-ahead 2nd · 00:33
1–0
⚔️ Tage Thompson 2nd · 19:47
2–0
3rd period
⚔️ Jason Zucker 3rd · 00:25
Assists: Ryan McLeod · beat David Rittich
3–0
⚔️ Rasmus Dahlin Empty net 3rd · 14:02
Assists: Peyton Krebs
4–0
⚔️ Alex Tuch 3rd · 14:38
5–0

Game recap

AI

Sabres Dominate Islanders 5-0 in a Shutout Victory

The Buffalo Sabres put on a commanding display against the New York Islanders, winning 5-0 in a game that showcased their offensive firepower and solid defensive play. This match was highlighted by a shutout performance, ensuring the Islanders were held scoreless throughout the contest.

Big Picture

From start to finish, the Sabres were in control. With the win, they have solidified their position in the league, showcasing depth and skill across their roster. The Islanders, however, struggled to generate any meaningful offense and will need to regroup after this disappointing outing.

Turning Point

The game's momentum shifted decisively early in the second period when Jason Zucker opened the scoring just 33 seconds in. This early goal gave the Sabres a boost, and they continued to capitalize on their offensive opportunities. The significant moment came right before the second intermission when Tage Thompson scored with just 13 seconds left in the period, extending the lead to 2-0. This late goal was a dagger for the Islanders, denying them any momentum heading into the third.

Standout Performances

Jason Zucker was undoubtedly a key player for the Sabres, scoring twice and contributing an assist on one of the other goals. His ability to find the back of the net at crucial moments energized his team. Tage Thompson also had a standout performance, adding a goal to solidify his reputation as a reliable scorer. Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch rounded out the scoring for the Sabres, each contributing significantly to the overwhelming victory.

From a defensive standpoint, the Sabres' blue line was effective in shutting down any threats posed by the Islanders, allowing their goaltender (who was not called upon due to the shutout) a relatively quiet night.

What It Means

This victory is a statement win for the Sabres, proving they can dominate on the road and execute their game plan effectively. For the Islanders, this game serves as a harsh reminder of the work that still lies ahead. With no goals scored, they will need to reassess their offensive strategies to get back in the win column.

Overall, the Sabres have shown that they are a team to watch this season, while the Islanders must find solutions to their scoring woes if they hope to compete moving forward.

Lines & pairings

Estimated from ice time
⚔️Sabres
L1 Benson · McLeod · Tuch 17:57
L2 Thompson · Ostlund · Doan 16:56
L3 Zucker · Krebs · Quinn 13:12
L4 Malenstyn · Helenius · Kozak 11:03
D1 Dahlin · Power 24:37
D2 Samuelsson · Byram 21:25
D3 Kesselring · Metsa 12:00
🏝️Islanders
L1 Drouin · Horvat · Holmstrom 19:20
L2 Heineman · Pageau · Ritchie 16:36
L3 Barzal · Cizikas · Shabanov 12:45
L4 Duclair · Lee · MacLean 12:15
D1 Schaefer · DeAngelo 22:21
D2 Pelech · Mayfield 19:56
D3 Boqvist · George 14:55

Team stats

Away left · home right
⚔️BUF NYI🏝️
21 Shots on goal 26
16 Hits 24
11 Blocked shots 13
7 Takeaways 5
14 Giveaways 16
8 Penalty minutes 6
BUF shooting 23.8% (5/21) NYI shooting 0.0% (0/26)

Goaltending

Saves, shots faced and save percentage
⚔️Sabres
Alex Lyon Shutout
26/26
1.000 SV% · 0 GA · 60:00 TOI
🏝️Islanders
16/20
.800 SV% · 4 GA · 58:03 TOI

Where the goals came from

5 of 5 goals located
Jason Zucker · 2nd 00:33 · 1–0 Tage Thompson · 2nd 19:47 · 2–0 Jason Zucker · 3rd 00:25 · 3–0 Rasmus Dahlin · 3rd 14:02 · 4–0 Alex Tuch · 3rd 14:38 · 5–0
BUF NYI
The net is on the right for both teams. Hover a dot for the goal.

Period by period

AI
After 1st — 0–0
Sabres
Sabres — tied after 1st: 9-4-2 (60% win rate, 15 games)
Islanders
Islanders — tied after 1st: 8-5-2 (53% win rate, 15 games)
After 2nd — 2–0
Sabres
Sabres — leading by 2 goals after 2nd: 7-0 (100% win rate, 7 games)
Islanders
Islanders — trailing by 2 goals after 2nd: 0-8 (0% win rate, 8 games)
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BUF vs NYI, answered

Who won Sabres vs Islanders on January 24, 2026?

Sabres won 5–0. The final score was Sabres 5, Islanders 0.

Who scored for Sabres?

Jason Zucker (2), Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson.

How did the Sabres goalie play?

Alex Lyon made 26 saves on 26 shots (1.000 save percentage) for a shutout.

How did the Islanders goalie play?

David Rittich made 16 saves on 20 shots (.800 save percentage).

Where is Sabres vs Islanders played?

At UBS Arena in Elmont, the Islanders home rink.

What is the Sabres vs Islanders season series?

Sabres lead the season series 2–0 after 2 games.

Have a different question? Ask the Oracle — it answers from real box scores.