Sun Jan 05 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Sabres Look to End Road Trip on High Note Against High-Flying Golden Knights

**Las Vegas, NV** – The Buffalo Sabres will conclude their four-game road trip with a challenging matchup against the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights, currently second in the NHL standings with 55 points, have been on a dominant run, losing only twice since early December.

The Sabres enter the game after a 6-5 overtime loss in Colorado, snapping a three-game winning streak. Despite recent inconsistencies, Buffalo has shown improvement in their power play and depth scoring. However, they are still striving for a consistent 60-minute effort.

Several lineup changes will impact the Sabres’ performance. Defenseman Jacob Bryson is out due to illness, replaced by Dennis Gilbert. Forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel returns to the lineup after a spell on the sidelines, while Sam Lafferty will be a healthy scratch.

A resurgent power play has been a bright spot for Buffalo, converting four of their last six opportunities and showing significant improvement since December 21st. Jason Zucker, in particular, has thrived in front of the net, scoring four power-play goals – tied for the NHL lead – in this timeframe. Jack Quinn’s return to the top power-play unit has also been instrumental.

Coach Lindy Ruff made adjustments to his forward lines, notably promoting Dylan Cozens to first-line center and shifting Tage Thompson to right wing. This change seemingly unlocked Thompson’s offensive potential, as he recorded a career-high three assists against Colorado.

The Golden Knights boast a strong defensive record, allowing a league-best 1.92 goals per game since the beginning of December. Offensively, they are led by Jack Eichel (50 points) and Mark Stone (32 points). Former Sabre Victor Olofsson will face his old team for the first time since being traded. Adin Hill is expected to start in goal for Vegas.

Despite their recent struggles and the daunting challenge ahead, the Sabres hold a recent edge over the Golden Knights, winning three of their last four encounters. The game starts at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on MSG (Buffalo market) and streamed on ESPN+ (out of market).

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