Buffalo Sabres News

Levi's mixed results to start the season haven't deterred Don Granato and the Sabres coaching brass from their early-season commitment, as Levi is likely to start for the fourth consecutive game. In three games this season, Levi has a 3.00 GAA and .890 SV% as the rookie continues to accustom himself to the NHL level. Levi is coming off arguably his best performance of the season, in which he saved 21 of 23 shots for his first. The Sabres face off tonight as +114 home underdogs against the Calgary Flames, who have had mixed results themselves, being outscored 10-9 in their first three contests (1-1-1).

Samuelsson left the Sabres' game Tuesday vs. Tampa after 17:36 TOI due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day according to head coach Don Granato. The 23-year-old defensive cog collected his first assist of the season Tuesday but also is a +2 plus/minus with three SOG through three games this season. If he is forced to miss time it will be a huge loss as the towering defensemen is averaging over 20+ TOI for the second straight season (20:25).

Schenn's status has been up in the air after sitting out the last three games but is now been confirmed to miss the next four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. He recorded one block and four hits in 15:11 time-on-ice in his only game this season. Last season, Schenn had a league-leading 318 hits along with 22 points (4G / 18A) in 70 games. Dante Fabbro has, and will likely continue, to fill in on the back end in his absence.

An early-season setback in his return from an ongoing shoulder injury created some pessimism in Norris' likelihood to return to the lineup but after only three missed games, he will make his season debut Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Norris only played eight games last season, recording three points (1G / 2A), but has 93 points (54G / 39A) in his 133-game career. He is projected to line up at even strength with Dominik Kubalik and Drake Batherson and re-assume his position on the top powerplay unit.

Samuelsson's absence will create a hole on the Sabres blue-line should it extend at all passed just the remainder of Tuesday's game. The 23-year-old blue-liner has become a dependable partner for Rasmus Dahlin on Buffalo's top pair. He scored two goals and added eights assists in 55 games last season with an ATOI of 22:11.

Rookie Devon Levi has had some struggles out of the gate but the Buffalo Sabres aren't changing course as he will get his third consecutive start of the season. In his first two games, Levi has failed to record a victory (0-2-0) while posting a 3.55 GAA and .881 SV%. The Sabres are slight favourites at home tonight (-116) but will need Levi's high pedigree to be on display if they hope to shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are averaging 3.67 goals per game in their first three contests (1-2-0).

Rookie Devon Levi has had some struggles out of the gate but the Buffalo Sabres aren't changing course as he looks poised to get his third consecutive start of the season. In his first two games, Levi has failed to record a victory (0-2-0) while posting a 3.55 GAA and .881 SV%. The Sabres are slight favourites at home tonight (-116) but will need Levi's high pedigree to be on display if they hope to shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are averaging 3.67 goals per game in their first three contests (1-2-0).

Georgiev will look to continue his sparkling start to the season after he is slated to get the nod in goal for the third consecutive game for the Avalanche. Georgiev has shut the door in his first two games of the season (2-0-0), posting a 1.45 GAA and .947 SV%. With Pavel Francouz out indefinitely and current backup Ivan Prosvetov lacking NHL experience, Georgiev should be a workhorse for the Avalanche going forward. Tonight, they are -149 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has had a miserable start to the season, scoring only twice in their first three games (0-2-1).

Levi allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Levi has quickly established himself as the Sabres' No.1, having gone 5-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in eight career NHL games. On Saturday he will face an Islanders team that was 23rd in GF/60 (2.92) last season.

Levi allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Levi has quickly established himself as the Sabres' No.1, having gone 5-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in eight career NHL games. On Saturday he will face an Islanders team that was 23rd in GF/60 (2.92) last season.

Georgiev will search for his 100th career victory as he is slated to tend the pipes for the second consecutive game for the Avalanche. Georgiev was terrific in his first game of the season, saving 34 of 36 shots in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. After a fantastic first season with the Avalanche that saw him record a 2.53 GAA and .918 SV% in 62 games (40-16-6), Georgiev looks poised to pick up where he left off as one of the top goalies in the league this season. The Avalanche will be facing a Sharks team that struggles to generate offence and will be without Mikael Granlund and Logan Couture.

Schenn presumably picked up the injury at some point during Tuesday night's opening affair with the Lightning, though there was no mention or report of an injury prior to warmups for Thursday's game against the Blues. The 33-year-old blue-liner rarely contributes offensively, but his absence will be felt in fantasy formats that reward blocked shots and hits. Dante Fabbro will slide into the lineup in place of Schenn.

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

The first overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Power is coming off an impressive rookie season. The 20-year-old registered four goals and 31 assists in 79 games despite receiving limited power-play minutes, and was a reliable defender in his own end. The lack of power-play time may not improve so long as Rasmus Dahlin is still in town, but Power nevertheless seems poised for a breakout year in 2023-24.

Georgiev led the NHL in wins with his 40-16-6 record, .918 SV% and 2.53 GAA in 2022-23 and will be Colorado's starting goaltender vs. Los Angeles for their season opener Wednesday. The 27-year-old is entering his second season in Colorado after signing a three-year, $10.2 million contract prior to last season. He takes on Los Angeles on the road, who finished 2022-23 11th in the NHL in both shots per game (32.4) and goals for (274).

Norris' status isn't any more clear after suffering a setback in relation to his ongoing shoulder injury. He is not expected to play in the Senators' season opener, but outside of that his timeline remains completely up in the air. After only being able to play in eight games last season, Norris was hopeful to start the season in his familiar role as the second-line center on a much-improved Ottawa team. He has 93 points (54G / 39A) in 133 career games with the Senators.