The Buffalo Sabres visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Thursday, October 29, 2026, with puck drop set for 10:00 PM EDT.
Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (5-4-3, 13 points in 2026-27) at Anaheim Ducks (5-6-1, 11 points in 2026-27)
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Puck drop: 10:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM PDT local)
Venue: Honda Center
How to watch: ANA: ESPN+, HULU, Disney+, SN+
Buffalo Sabres News & Notes
Scoring remains the larger concern. Lindy Ruff has pointed to the team’s lack of offensive punch as a growing issue, and he has responded by shuffling his lineup, a move framed as a high-stakes gamble this early in the season. Reports also indicate the front office is working to address a major trade need. Buffalo continues the road trip Thursday in Anaheim against a Ducks team coming off a two-goal game from A.J. Greer.
Anaheim Ducks News & Notes
Anaheim let a three-goal lead slip away at home Tuesday, falling 6-5 in overtime to Vancouver in a game the Ducks described as terrible. The Canucks scored three times late in the third period and ended a 10-game losing streak, with Jonathan Lekkerimaki scoring twice and Filip Hronek converting a power-play goal in the extra period. The collapse was the latest in a run of self-inflicted defeats for a team that has struggled to protect leads.
There were individual bright spots in the loss. Leo Carlsson reached a scoring milestone against the Canucks and finished with a goal and an assist, while A.J. Greer recorded a two-goal game. The Ducks stay home to continue the week, hosting the Buffalo Sabres at Honda Center on Thursday in the 14th game of Anaheim’s season.
Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines
Line 1: Zach Benson – Tage Thompson – Konsta Helenius
Line 2: Josh Doan – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Line 3: Jason Zucker – Josh Norris – Ryan McLeod
Line 4: Peyton Krebs – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malenstyn
Pair 1: Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Pair 2: Olen Zellweger – Owen Power
Pair 3: Zach Metsa – Louis Crevier
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Colten Ellis
Buffalo Sabres Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Jack Quinn – Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Tage Thompson – Rasmus Dahlin
Power play, Second unit: Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Josh Doan – Owen Power – Josh Norris
Penalty kill, First unit: Ryan McLeod – Zach Benson – Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Penalty kill, Second unit: Josh Norris – Beck Malenstyn – Zach Metsa – Olen Zellweger
Anaheim Ducks Projected Lines
Line 1: Alex Killorn – Leo Carlsson – Judd Caulfield
Line 2: Jeff Malott – Mikael Granlund – Beckett Sennecke
Line 3: A.J. Greer – Tim Washe – Cutter Gauthier
Line 4: Frank Vatrano – Roger McQueen – Sam Colangelo
Pair 1: Jackson Lacombe – Noah Warren
Pair 2: Tyson Hinds – Tristan Luneau
Pair 3: Pavel Mintyukov – Drew Helleson
Goaltenders: Lukas Dostal – Ville Husso
Anaheim Ducks Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Beckett Sennecke – Leo Carlsson – Mikael Granlund – Jackson Lacombe – Cutter Gauthier
Power play, Second unit: Alex Killorn – Frank Vatrano – Sam Colangelo – Judd Caulfield – Tristan Luneau
Penalty kill, First unit: Tim Washe – Alex Killorn – Jackson Lacombe – Tristan Luneau
Penalty kill, Second unit: Leo Carlsson – Jeff Malott – Noah Warren – Tyson Hinds
Players To Watch
Zach Benson — Buffalo Sabres
Benson scored on five shots last time out, and the underlying case says more is coming. Box Score Junkie has him at a team-best 62.7% Corsi-for and 60.9% Fenwick this season, with 68.7 shot attempts for per 60. He also sits at one goal on 6.5 expected, a 5.5-goal shortfall begging to correct.
Cutter Gauthier — Anaheim Ducks
Gauthier put four shots on net and picked up an assist last time out, and the volume is consistent: Box Score Junkie lists 62.6 shot attempts for per 60 this season alongside a 52.3% Corsi-for. Two goals on 4.5 expected means he’s 2.5 behind the shot quality he’s generating, so a shots-on-goal prop has support.
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres
Justin Danforth (RW) — Day-To-Day, Upper Body, expected back Thursday, October 29
Jiri Kulich (C) — Out, Concussion, expected back Wednesday, November 4
Sam Carrick (C) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 31
Alex Lyon (G) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 31
Matt Grzelcyk (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 31
Conor Timmins (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Friday, November 6
Jack Rathbone (D) — Injured Reserve, Undisclosed, expected back Sunday, November 8
Anaheim Ducks
Pavel Mintyukov (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Thursday, October 29
Ian Moore (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Sunday, November 8
Ryan Poehling (C) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Wednesday, November 25
Troy Terry (RW) — Injured Reserve, Hip, expected back Saturday, November 21
Betting Odds
Moneyline (DraftKings, as of October 29 at 4:18 AM ET): Buffalo Sabres -130, Anaheim Ducks +110.
Odds change through the day; check the sportsbook before betting. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Next Up
Buffalo Sabres: visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, October 31.
Anaheim Ducks: host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, November 1.