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 7 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. 

[Mustache of God]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

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

Good thing those three guys aren't really injury prone.

[CallawaySabres]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

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.

I think the problem is that this team would be sunk if they lost ANY of those 3 players (or Dahlin) for a long stretch of time. 

[dudacek]

With the usual “it’s preseason” caveats, I’m curious about our first look at whether or not we have 3 lines this year.

As a Benson truther and someone who thinks Tage might have a career year, I feel pretty good about the 1st line but there’s certainly projection there.

Tuch McLeod Zucker feels like it might be a safe line 2, but the question remains about how real the latter two were last season.

Quinn Doan and Kulich is an intriguing but unproven mix as 3rd line.

Sure would nice if we can roll them over 

[Jorcus]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

With the usual “it’s preseason” caveats, I’m curious about our first look at whether or not we have 3 lines this year.

As a Benson truther and someone who thinks Tage might have a career year, I feel pretty good about the 1st line but there’s certainly projection there.

Tuch McLeod Zucker feels like it might be a safe line 2, but the question remains about how real the latter two were last season.

Quinn Doan and Kulich is an intriguing but unproven mix as 3rd line.

Sure would nice if we can roll them over 

 

The thing about the third line is I don't know who the leader is. Kulich and Doan are still too inexperienced and I just don't trust Quinn to be giving instructions pre faceoff to the other 2. I would feel a lot better swapping Zucker for Quinn on the lines for that reason.

[PromoTheRobot]

6 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

My TV says the game is on MSG tonight 

And it's on ESPN+

[LabattBlue]

Once again, so dumb that coaches don't get together to ice comparable lineups of vets vs prospects vs AHL players.   Sabres icing lineup of mostly regulars. Penguins bunch of "who is that".  👎

 

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Once again, so dumb that coaches don't get together to ice comparable lineups of vets vs prospects vs AHL players.   Sabres icing lineup of mostly regulars. Penguins bunch of "who is that".  👎

 

Ice your starters for the home games --- sell those preseason tickets and drum up hype for the season.

[LabattBlue]

12 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Ice your starters for the home games --- sell those preseason tickets and drum up hype for the season.

The only preseason tix being bought are on the secondary market, and I don't think anyone is getting too high or low based on preseason mismatches.  😂

Edited 1 hour ago by LabattBlue

[dudacek]

21 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

The thing about the third line is I don't know who the leader is. Kulich and Doan are still too inexperienced and I just don't trust Quinn to be giving instructions pre faceoff to the other 2. I would feel a lot better swapping Zucker for Quinn on the lines for that reason.

I think it’s about matchups

McLeod Tuch and Zucker you can safely play against top lines, Quinn Kulich and Doan you can’t.

Switch Zucker and Quinn and neither looks great against top lines.

But I’m good thinking Quinn Kulich and Doan can outplay most 3rd lines.

[Taro T]

23 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Once again, so dumb that coaches don't get together to ice comparable lineups of vets vs prospects vs AHL players.   Sabres icing lineup of mostly regulars. Penguins bunch of "who is that".  👎

 

Darth nailed it.  If Crosby is only going to play 1/2 of the preseason games, they aren't going to waste him on the road only to have people that actually showed up to the game a day or 2 later in the 'Burgh to be griping about not seeing their star.

Same with the Sabres and Thompson and Dahlin.  They aren't playing in C-Bus.  

Right or wrong, it's reality.

And teams do tend to have their better checking line going on the road, so the home team's top guys aren't primarily skating against AHLers usually.

[LabattBlue]

3 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Darth nailed it.  If Crosby is only going to play 1/2 of the preseason games, they aren't going to waste him on the road only to have people that actually showed up to the game a day or 2 later in the 'Burgh to be griping about not seeing their star.

Same with the Sabres and Thompson and Dahlin.  They aren't playing in C-Bus.  

Right or wrong, it's reality.

And teams do tend to have their better checking line going on the road, so the home team's top guys aren't primarily skating against AHLers usually.

I understand they are not going to ice their opening night lineup on the road, but pretty ridiculous how bad a lineup can be...and yes I agree, it is reality. 

[LGR4GM]

Do we even have Pittsburgh's lineup?