Buffalo Sabres head to Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2025, aiming to snap out of early-season struggles against a surging Detroit Red Wings. Buffalo sits 5-8-4 with 14 points through 17 games, currently outside the playoff picture, while Detroit stands 10-7-0 with 20 points and a more stable run of form.
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin returns to the lineup after a three-game absence, having supported his wife during a heart transplant recovery. His presence strengthens a Buffalo defense that had been brittle without him and adds leadership to a young core as the team seeks to climb back into contention.
— Buffalo Sabres projected lineup — Forward lines:
- Top line: Tage Thompson centering Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch
- Second line: Jordan Greenway, Tyson Kozak, Josh Doan
- Third line: Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund, Jack Quinn
- Fourth line: Josh Dunne, Peyton Krebs, Beck Malenstyn
Injuries: Jason Zucker is out with an illness; Jiri Kulich is recovering from a blood clot; Zach Benson sidelined with a lower-body injury; Justin Danforth and Josh Norris unavailable. Lindy Ruff has shuffled lines to cope.
Defensive pairings:
- Second pairing: Rasmus Dahlin with Mattias Samuelsson
- Top pair: Owen Power with Conor Timmins
- Third pairing: Bowen Byram with Michael Kesselring
Goaltending:
- Colton Ellis gets the start
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup
- Scratches include Alex Lyon and Jacob Bryson, with Mason Geertsen and Zac Jones as healthy scratches
— Red Wings projected lineup — Forwards:
- Top line: Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond
- Second line: Patrick Kane, J.T. Compher, Emmitt Finnie
- Third line: Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, Mason Appleton
- Fourth line: Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp, Jonatan Berggren
Defense:
- Duncan Edvinsson and Moritz Seider as the top pairing
- Ben Chiarot and Axel Sandin-Pellikka on the second pairing
- Jacob Bernard-Docker and Albert Johansson on the third pairing
Goaltending:
- John Gibson starts in goal; Cam Talbot backups are available
Key storyline:
- Dahlin’s return could stabilize Buffalo’s ailing defense and jump-start offense where needed
- Detroit aims to extend momentum and solidify its improved play across five-on-five and special teams
Stat shootout:
- Goaltending matchups feature Ellis vs. Gibson in a pivotal early-season divisional test
Broadcast:
- 7:00 PM puck drop at Little Caesars Arena; broadcast on FSDNDET and MSG-B
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.