GDT: Penguins @ Sabres, 7:00pm Oct. 1, 2025, 🎙 📺 ESPN+/MSG

[LGR4GM]

Upl is playing, rest of lineup will come around 10am this morning. I expect Pittsburgh to play bubble guys. 

Edited 2 hours ago by LGR4GM

[bob_sauve28]

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/how-to-watch-buffalo-sabres-pittsburgh-penguins-roster

 

How to watch

Streaming: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

Tonight’s roster

Forwards

Josh Doan

Justin Danforth

Mason Geertsen

Peyton Krebs

Jiri Kulich

Beck Malenstyn

Ryan McLeod

Josh Norris

Jack Quinn

Tage Thompson

Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker

Defensemen

Jacob Bryson

Rasmus Dahlin

Ryan Johnson

Michael Kesselring

Radim Mrtka

Conor Timmins

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Luukkonen making preseason debut

Luukkonen made his return to practice on Sept. 25 after a late offseason lower-body injury held him out the first eight days of training camp.

Ruff said he's yet to make a decision on whether Luukkonen will play the entire game or just the opening two periods. Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev – the other two remaining goalies on Buffalo’s roster – both played two periods in their first preseason starts.

Ruff was asked what he hopes to see from Luukkonen.

“Just health and feeling good in net,” Ruff said. “Like I said, we've changed some things with the way we're playing. We're trying to really tighten up defensively and at the same time, not have that hurt us offensively. So just to get him in between the pipes and have him feel good, so it'll be great to see him in net tomorrow night.”

Kulich returning to the lineup

Kulich was back on the ice for practice on Tuesday after missing time with what Ruff described as a tweaked muscle. The 21-year-old has missed the last three games since recording an assist in the preseason opener.

Kulich was paired alongside Josh Doan and Jack Quinn in practice, a line that was used in the opener.

Johnson cultivating his role

Ryan Johnson – a former first-round pick – has played in a pair of preseason games and logged over 18 minutes of ice time on Saturday.

Ruff said the defenseman made his presence felt with a level of physicality and intensity that pairs well with his smooth skating ability. Johnson was with Conor Timmins in practice on Tuesday and is in line to play Wednesday with injuries to fellow left-shot defensemen Owen Power (day to day), Bowen Byram (who skated on his own Tuesday), and Mattias Samuelsson (week to week).

“He gave us a good game the other night,” Ruff said. “Probably one of the better games. He needs to be noticed. He needs to be hard to play against, use the legs, be physical, I thought he answered the call on all of those. I think he can kill penalties with those legs. He can play against the top players if he stays under control. I think he understands there's a way to get there and to be a regular player.”

[bob_sauve28]

My TV says the game is on MSG tonight 

[LGR4GM]

kinda crazy how Kesselring,  Timmins, and Mrtka really add depth to this team. Is this defense good? No but it's easily comparable to previous Sabres teams. 

 

[dudacek]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

kinda crazy how Kesselring,  Timmins, and Mrtka really add depth to this team. Is this defense good? No but it's easily comparable to previous Sabres teams. 

 

Yep. Somebody posted the team has no depth at the same time people are arguing about how their #10(!) needs to be playing. 

Questionable as he may be, not many teams missing their #2, #3, and #5 are dressing 6 players better than Bryson

[DarthEbriate]

If Geertsen really is a Ruff beloved and automatically has a roster spot and playing time, Krebs had better have a good showing with the top line today.

[LGR4GM]

41 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Yep. Somebody posted the team has no depth at the same time people are arguing about how their #10(!) needs to be playing. 

Questionable as he may be, not many teams missing their #2, #3, and #5 are dressing 6 players better than Bryson

This team has no forward depth. If Thompson or Norris or Tuch go out, well idk what we do. 

[K-9]

9 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

This team has no forward depth. If Thompson or Norris or Tuch go out, well idk what we do. 

Agree entirely. But there can’t be many teams that would do well after losing three of their top players. Imo, quality depth is a problem for most teams in the league. Expanding to 32 teams has diluted the talent pool.

[pastajoe]

15 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

This team has no forward depth. If Thompson or Norris or Tuch go out, well idk what we do. 

Move Dahlin to center ala Phil Housley.

[ponokasabre]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

kinda crazy how Kesselring,  Timmins, and Mrtka really add depth to this team. Is this defense good? No but it's easily comparable to previous Sabres teams. 

 

I like the forward lines 

Benson comes back in and Krebs moves back to Danforths spot 

then when Greenway comes back he takes one of the 4th line wing spots and the other is between Beck and Geertsen and honestly I’m fine with Beck sitting for Geertsen most games, Beck is a good hitter and forechecker but he doesn’t fight at all, and we will need the fighting 

honestly watching the pre season so far there has been so many fights! And teams are loading up on big tough players, the Florida effect if you will 

[dudacek]

Just now, ponokasabre said:

I like the forward lines 

Benson comes back in and Krebs moves back to Danforths spot 

then when Greenway comes back he takes one of the 4th line wing spots and the other is between Beck and Geertsen and honestly I’m fine with Beck sitting for Geertsen most games, Beck is a good hitter and forechecker but he doesn’t fight at all, and we will need the fighting 

honestly watching the pre season so far there has been so many fights! And teams are loading up on big tough players, the Florida effect if you will 

The Bruins are very much leaning into this.

They know they don't have enough skill, so they're trying to forge a path with brawn and defence.

[LGR4GM]

22 minutes ago, dudacek said:

The Bruins are very much leaning into this.

They know they don't have enough skill, so they're trying to forge a path with brawn and defence.

Teams are mistaken checking and battle for hits stuff and punches.