Last season, the Buffalo Sabres emerged as one of the top teams in the NHL, finishing first in the Atlantic Division and winning their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Although they were eliminated in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens, Sabres fans celebrated ending a 15-year playoff drought.
At TheHockeyNews.com, we’ve been examining the Sabres’ opponents in the Eastern Conference through a series called “Know Your Enemy.” In each installment, we analyze how Buffalo performed against each team last season and gauge their prospects for the upcoming season. This particular piece focuses on the New York Islanders.
The Islanders had a fairly uneventful offseason but still possess some talented players, such as young defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Here’s our outlook on how the Sabres might fare against them:
Key Islanders Players: Matias Maccelli (LW), Mitchell Chaffee (RW), Vitek Vanecek (G)
2025-26 Series Record: Sabres 3-0-0, Islanders 0-2-1
Upcoming Matchups in 2026-27: January 20 at Islanders; February 3 at Buffalo; March 21 at Islanders
Can the Sabres beat this team? The answer is a confident yes. The Sabres should definitely beat the Islanders—and could sweep them again, as they did last season.
Why? Buffalo’s roster is deeper and more skilled, whereas the Islanders are still in a rebuilding phase under GM Mathieu Darche. The Islanders are working to assemble a new team for the future, but significant gaps remain, and it’s unlikely they’ll make the playoffs in 2026-27.
Buffalo’s schedule against the Islanders is concentrated over an eight-week stretch, including two road games. By that point in the season, the Sabres should be fully prepared to dominate these matchups, stamping out any signs of life from the Islanders with authority.
Failure to do so could cost Buffalo valuable points and jeopardize their chances at home-ice advantage or even a playoff spot. With the standings often separated by just a few points, squandering easy wins against weaker teams like the Islanders could prove costly by season’s end. Though the Islanders are competitive, their lack of depth and aging roster are limitations, making it essential for the Sabres to win all three of their meetings this season.
Fan Take: This series against the Islanders is more than just a set of games; it’s a litmus test for the Sabres’ playoff ambitions and growth. Fans should be excited because dominating a team like the Islanders reinforces Buffalo’s potential as a genuine playoff contender and energizes the fanbase for what’s to come this season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
