Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres projected lineup November 19, 2025: Sabres eye third straight win as Flames search for offense

The Saddledome-to-KeyBank Center trek has rarely felt this lopsided. Calgary limps into Buffalo on a six-game slide and sporting the NHL’s worst offense (2.1 goals per game), while the Sabres carry fresh confidence after pounding Edmonton 5-1 and own the league’s top penalty-kill. With both teams dealing with mounting injuries, the projected lineups for the November 19, 2025 tilt reveal exactly where each club believes it can squeeze out two points.

Calgary Flames projected lineup November 19, 2025: youth injected, Cooley gets the crease

Ryan Huska did not run a morning skate after last night’s 5-2 loss in Chicago, but club sources told NHL.com that the same lines that finished the game will open against Buffalo. That means Devin Cooley—who stopped 17 of 18 in relief—gets his first start of the year, a move the staff hopes steadies a team that has allowed four or more in four of its last five.

Top-six shake-up continues

• Huberdeau – Frost – Coronato Jonathan Huberdeau’s nine points in 16 games are underwhelming for a $10.5 M winger, yet the coaching staff loves the possession numbers (56 % Corsi) this trio posts. Morgan Frost has won 54 % of draws and is the only Flame above 50 % on face-offs, while rookie Matt Coronato’s six goals already equal his entire 2023-24 output. The unit combined for 12 shots Tuesday but only Coronato beat Arvid Söderblom; converting those chances is the nightly sermon.

• Sharangovich – Kadri – Farabee Nazem Kadri’s 12 points lead the club, yet his –15 rating is the league’s second-worst among forwards. Playing with two responsible wingers in Yegor Sharangovich and Joel Farabee should insulate him: Sharangovich has a team-best 18 take-aways and Farabee’s forecheck created the lone even-strength goal in Denver last week. If Kadri can stay above water territorially, this line becomes Calgary’s best hope for secondary scoring.

Bottom-six tasked with heavy lifting

• Zary – Backlund – Coleman Mikael Backlund remains the defensive conscience, starting 63 % of shifts in the DZ. Rookie Connor Zary’s speed through neutral ice has added transition punch, while Blake Coleman (three shorthanded shots) is the heartbeat of a penalty kill that quietly sits 11th in expected-goals against. Expect them to see plenty of Tage Thompson’s line in a power-vs-power matchup.

• Lomberg – Morton – Klapka Newly claimed John Beecher was a healthy scratch, so Ryan Lomberg stays in after drawing two penalties in Chicago. Sam Morton’s 6’4” frame will be asked to bang with Buffalo’s heavy fourth unit, and Adam Klapka—fresh off his first NHL point—provides the net-front screen Cooley needs on a power play that still languishes at 11.9 %.

Defensive pairs and goaltending

• Bahl – Andersson Rasmus Andersson’s nine points pace the blue line, but the giveaway that led to Philipp Kurashev’s dagger Tuesday highlighted Calgary’s biggest woe. Kevin Bahl, claimed on waivers from New Jersey, adds 6’6” reach and has cleared the crease on 68 % of slot entries according to Sportlogiq.

• Kuznetsov – Weegar Yan Kuznetsov’s recall surprised some, yet his 54 % expected-goals share in AHL Stockton translated to two solid periods in Chicago. MacKenzie Weegar’s off-puck communication should accelerate the rookie’s learning curve.

• Bean – Pachal Jake Bean’s puck-moving has been streaky; he needs a clean breakout night to keep Buffalo’s forecheck honest. Brayden Pachal’s five hits last night led the club and he remains the emotional spark.

• Cooley The 26-year-old owns a 1.75 GAA in two relief appearances. Calgary is 0-5-1 when allowing the first goal; Cooley’s first-period rebound control could decide the evening.

Injuries: Martin Pospisil (undisclosed), Zayne Parekh (upper body), Samuel Honzek (upper body) remain out. Beecher, Hanley and Hunt are healthy scratches.

Buffalo Sabres projected lineup November 19, 2025: rookies rolling, Ellis stays hot

Lindy Ruff skated his group Wednesday morning and confirmed the forward lines that obliterated Edmonton will stay intact, while veteran Alex Lyon returns to the crease after Colten Ellis’ 32-save masterpiece. The Sabres have scored five goals in consecutive home games for the first time since 2022; keeping the wave alive against a fragile Calgary defense is the mandate.

Scoring-by-committee top-nine

• Doan – Thompson – Tuch Josh Doan’s recall has been a revelation—two goals and an assist in three games since his debut. Tage Thompson’s 17 points (9G, 8A) already surpass his October total from a year ago, and Alex Tuch’s net-drive has produced a team-high 24 high-danger chances. The line clicked for 11 shots and two goals versus the Oilers; Calgary’s soft slot coverage (29th in rebound control) plays into their hands.

• Rosen – McLeod – Quinn Isak Rosen’s speed stretches zones, allowing Ryan McLeod—acquired from Edmonton at the draft—to showcase his 200-foot game. Jack Quinn’s one-timer from the left circle is 2-for-2 on power-play looks the last two games; expect Ruff to double-shift him if Calgary takes a penalty.

• Greenway – Kozak – Krebs Jordan Greenway’s physicality (17 hits in last four) sets the tone, while Tyson Kozak’s 58 % face-off clip gives Buffalo a possession platform. Peyton Krebs has points in back-to-back outings and his 1.83 points-per-60 at 5v5 ranks third among regular forwards.

Energy fourth line

• Dunne – Östlund – Malenstyn Noah Östlund’s first NHL brace Monday earned him another look between two heavy wingers. Josh Dunne’s 11 PIMs lead the club, but it’s his cycle work that frees Östlund for middle-lane drives. Beck Malenstyn’s shorthanded empty-netter versus Edmonton showcased the group’s versatility.

Defensive pairs and goaltending

• Samuelsson – Dahlin Rasmus Dahlin’s 21 points (4G, 17A) place him second among NHL defensemen; his 52 % shot-share with Mattias Samuelsson has stabilized a pair that bled chances a year ago. Samuelsson’s reach (6’4”) neutralizes Coronato’s cut-backs, a key if Dahlin jumps into the rush.

• Bryson – Power Jacob Bryson’s gap control has improved under assistant coach Jeremy Colliton, while 21-year-old Owen Power’s 14 points are already a career high. The duo averages 2.18 expected-goals against per 60, best on the team.

• Byram – Timmins Bowen Byram’s physical edge (27 hits) complements Conor Timmins’ outlet passing. Byram’s goal Monday was his first since opening night; another point tonight would equal his longest streak since junior.

• Lyon Ruff confirmed the veteran gets the net, citing Lyon’s 3-0-1 record and .922 Sv% in his last four home starts. The 31-year-old’s puck-handling should blunt Calgary’s dump-in frequency and trigger quick counters.

Injuries: Michael Kesselring (lower body, week-to-week), Jason Zucker (illness, probable Friday), Jiri Kulich (blood clot, IR), Zach Benson (lower body, day-to-day), Justin Danforth (lower body, IR), Josh Norris (upper body, IR) remain out. Ellis, Metsa and Geertsen are healthy scratches.

Key matchups and special teams that could swing Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres November 19, 2025

Power-play vs penalty-kill Buffalo’s league-leading 89.7 % kill has surrendered just two goals in 19 shorthanded situations at KeyBank Center. Calgary’s 11.9 % power-play is dead last and 0-for-11 on the road trip. The Sabres’ wedge-plus-one scheme forces entries wide; watch for Dahlin to pressure Huberdeau’s bumper passes and trigger shorthanded chances for Malenstyn.

Face-off circle Morton (39 %) and Frost (54 %) give Calgary a split-strength edge, but Buffalo owns the overall dot at 52 %. McLeod’s 56 % clip on defensive-zone draws means the Flames may struggle to establish extended o-zone time—critical for a team that scores so rarely.

Goaltending duel Cooley’s calm positioning versus Lyon’s active stick will be fascinating. Lyon’s 2.05 goals-saved above average at home ranks ninth among starters; Cooley’s 0.87 GSAA in limited duty suggests competence, but a soft first-period goal could sink fragile Calgary confidence.

Betting angle and fantasy focus for Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres projected lineup November 19, 2025

Oddsmakers opened Buffalo –155 and the total at 6.5, numbers that have held steady despite early public money on the under. The Sabres are 6-2 ATS in their last eight as home favorites, while Calgary is 2-8 straight-up in the second half of back-to-backs. Fantasy players should lock in Thompson (C/RW dual eligibility) and ride Dahlin’s hot hand on DraftKings; on the flip side, Coronato’s $4,200 salary offers cap relief if you believe the Flames finally bury some chances.

What the coaches said

Ryan Huska on turning shots into goals: “We’re getting the looks—29.9 a night—but we need second-effort goals. You can’t out-skate the puck in this league; you’ve got to out-will it.”

Lindy Ruff on lineup continuity: “When the kids give you juice, you keep feeding them. Östlund earned another shift, and Doan’s details are NHL-ready right now.”

Calgary Flames vs Buffalo Sabres projected lineup November 19, 2025: final takeaway

All arrows point toward a Sabres victory: superior special teams, deeper scoring, healthier lineup and home-ice momentum. Yet the NHL’s parity means the Flames’ desperation could produce a tighter affair than the odds suggest—especially if Cooley steals a period and the top line finally converts an early chance. Still, until Calgary proves it can finish, the smart money sides with Buffalo’s balanced attack and league-best penalty kill to make it three wins in a row and push the Flames deeper into the Pacific basement.

For a broader look at how Calgary’s lines have evolved this month, revisit our breakdown of the Flames vs Predators projected lineup November 1, 2025 and the Flames vs Wild projected lineup November 9, 2025—both games that foreshadowed the roster churn seen tonight.