A third-round pick of the Sabres in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, McCarthy spent the last three seasons playing for Boston University. The 20-year-od blue-liner tallied eight goals and 42 assists across 113 career NCAA games.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies since returning from the Olympic break, and will continue that trend on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Luukkonen tending the twine. The 27-year-old Luukkonen was solid in his most recent game, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%), but came up short in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Sabres are 6-1-0 in Luukkonen's last seven starts. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as +119 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has outscored their opposition 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0).
Samuelson didn't seem to show any ill effects during Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, playing 20:30 time-on-ice, but he was absent from practice on Friday. The 25-yer-old defenseman is averaging 23:07 time-on-ice, recording 36 points (12G / 24A), 109 hits, and 130 blocks in 64 games this season.
The Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres seem to win regardless of who is tending the twine and, as such, will keep their goalie rotation going on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, turning to Luukkonen. The 27-year-old Luukkonen is coming off one of his worst statistical outings of the season, allowing seven goals on 28 shots (.750 SV%), but the powerhouse Sabres still salvaged an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres have wins in six of Luukonen's last seven appearances (6-1-0), while he boasts a solid 2.77 GAA and .911 SV%. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -195 home favourites against a Capitals team that played last night and lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres seem to win regardless of who is tending the twine and, as such, will keep their goalie rotation going on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, turning to Luukkonen. The 27-year-old Luukkonen is coming off one of his worst statistical outings of the season, allowing seven goals on 28 shots (.750 SV%), but the powerhouse Sabres still salvaged an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres have wins in six of Luukonen's last seven appearances (6-1-0), while he boasts a solid 2.77 GAA and .911 SV%. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -195 home favourites against a Capitals team that played last night and lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Metsa will be the odd-man out on the Sabres back-end on Tuesday in order to make way for Logan Stanley's debut. Metsa has two goals and two assists in 33 games this season.
The Sabres have evenly rotated goalies since returning from the Olympic break and will continue that trend on Tuesday, with Lyon tending the twine against the San Jose Sharks. The 33-year-old Lyon was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators, and has been excellent for most of the season. In his last 16 games, Lyon has only two losses (14-2-0), boasting an impressive 2.32 GAA and .925 SV%. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -202 home favourites against a Sharks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (2-0-2).
The Sabres have evenly rotated goalies since returning from the Olympic break and will continue that trend on Tuesday, with Lyon tending the twine against the San Jose Sharks. The 33-year-old Lyon was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators, and has been excellent for most of the season. In his last 16 games, Lyon has only two losses (14-2-0), boasting an impressive 2.32 GAA and .925 SV%. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -202 home favourites against a Sharks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (2-0-2).
Gilbert is no stranger to the NHL, with 20 points (3G / 17A) in 112 career games, but has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 29-year-old defenseman has 12 points (0G / 12A) in 31 games with Belleville (AHL) this season.
Kulich has not played since November 1st after suffering a blood clot and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old Czech forward had five points (3G / 2A) in 12 games.
Carrick was one of many Ranger players on the trade block and finds himself in Buffalo after the Sabres traded a 2026 3rd round pick and a 2026 6th round pick (CHI) to the New York Rangers to acquire him. The 34-year-old veteran forward has reached double digit points (10) for just the 4th time in his 11 NHL seasons and should play a complimentary role in Buffalo's bottom-six.
Carrick was one of many Ranger players on the trade block and finds himself in Buffalo after the Sabres traded a 2026 3rd round pick and a 2026 6th round pick (CHI) to New York to acquire him. The 34-year-old veteran forward has reached double digit points (10) for just the 4th time in his 11 NHL seasons and should play a complimentary role in Buffalo's bottom-six.
