Levi's mixed results to start the season haven't deterred Don Granato and the Sabres coaching brass from their early-season commitment, as Levi is likely to start for the fourth consecutive game. In three games this season, Levi has a 3.00 GAA and .890 SV% as the rookie continues to accustom himself to the NHL level. Levi is coming off arguably his best performance of the season, in which he saved 21 of 23 shots for his first. The Sabres face off tonight as +114 home underdogs against the Calgary Flames, who have had mixed results themselves, being outscored 10-9 in their first three contests (1-1-1).

Samuelsson left the Sabres' game Tuesday vs. Tampa after 17:36 TOI due to an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day according to head coach Don Granato. The 23-year-old defensive cog collected his first assist of the season Tuesday but also is a +2 plus/minus with three SOG through three games this season. If he is forced to miss time it will be a huge loss as the towering defensemen is averaging over 20+ TOI for the second straight season (20:25).

An early-season setback in his return from an ongoing shoulder injury created some pessimism in Norris' likelihood to return to the lineup but after only three missed games, he will make his season debut Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Norris only played eight games last season, recording three points (1G / 2A), but has 93 points (54G / 39A) in his 133-game career. He is projected to line up at even strength with Dominik Kubalik and Drake Batherson and re-assume his position on the top powerplay unit.

Samuelsson's absence will create a hole on the Sabres blue-line should it extend at all passed just the remainder of Tuesday's game. The 23-year-old blue-liner has become a dependable partner for Rasmus Dahlin on Buffalo's top pair. He scored two goals and added eights assists in 55 games last season with an ATOI of 22:11.

Rathbone has a goal, two PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through two games with Abbotsford (AHL) so far in 2022-23 and has been dealt to Pittsburgh alongside Karel Plasek for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman. The 24-year-old defensemen was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (95th overall) and has two goals and five points in 28 career NHL games played. In 2022-23, he had a goal, an assist, 12 SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus in 11 games with Vancouver.

Rookie Devon Levi has had some struggles out of the gate but the Buffalo Sabres aren't changing course as he will get his third consecutive start of the season. In his first two games, Levi has failed to record a victory (0-2-0) while posting a 3.55 GAA and .881 SV%. The Sabres are slight favourites at home tonight (-116) but will need Levi's high pedigree to be on display if they hope to shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are averaging 3.67 goals per game in their first three contests (1-2-0).

Rookie Devon Levi has had some struggles out of the gate but the Buffalo Sabres aren't changing course as he looks poised to get his third consecutive start of the season. In his first two games, Levi has failed to record a victory (0-2-0) while posting a 3.55 GAA and .881 SV%. The Sabres are slight favourites at home tonight (-116) but will need Levi's high pedigree to be on display if they hope to shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are averaging 3.67 goals per game in their first three contests (1-2-0).

After having Ville Husso tend the crease for the first two games, the Red Wings will turn to newcomer James Reimer for the third game of the season. Reimer spent last season on a very poor San Jose Sharks team, where he recorded a 3.48 GAA and .890 SV% in 43 games (12-21-8). Reimer is now in the 14th year of his NHL career and will hope to match his career average of 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% this season with the Red Wings. The Red Wings enter today's matchup as a -130 road favourite against a Blue Jackets team that will be without their starting goalie, Elvis Merzlinkins.

Levi allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Levi has quickly established himself as the Sabres' No.1, having gone 5-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in eight career NHL games. On Saturday he will face an Islanders team that was 23rd in GF/60 (2.92) last season.

Levi allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Levi has quickly established himself as the Sabres' No.1, having gone 5-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 SV% in eight career NHL games. On Saturday he will face an Islanders team that was 23rd in GF/60 (2.92) last season.

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

Levi appears likely to enter the season as the starting goalie for the Buffalo Sabres after a seven-game stint (5-2-0) with the team at the end of the 2022-23 campaign that saw him post a 2.94 GAA and .905 SV%. Expectations are high in Buffalo for the rookie goaltender as the team around him has solidified an equally impressive core of young forwards and defensemen. The Sabres are +117 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that ranked 12th offensively last season, scoring an average of 3.33 goals per game. Working in his favour, Levi has already suited up twice against the Rangers in his young career, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .934 SV% in those contests (2-0-0).

The first overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Power is coming off an impressive rookie season. The 20-year-old registered four goals and 31 assists in 79 games despite receiving limited power-play minutes, and was a reliable defender in his own end. The lack of power-play time may not improve so long as Rasmus Dahlin is still in town, but Power nevertheless seems poised for a breakout year in 2023-24.

Norris' status isn't any more clear after suffering a setback in relation to his ongoing shoulder injury. He is not expected to play in the Senators' season opener, but outside of that his timeline remains completely up in the air. After only being able to play in eight games last season, Norris was hopeful to start the season in his familiar role as the second-line center on a much-improved Ottawa team. He has 93 points (54G / 39A) in 133 career games with the Senators.

McLeod has missed time throughout training camp but is expected to play Wednesday vs. the Canucks. McLeod, who had 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 57 games a season ago, should serve as Edmonton's third line centre with Warren Foegele and Dylan Holloway on his wings.

Buffalo has locked up one of the league's premiere defensemen with a huge eight-year contract extension. The first overall pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft had a breakout season last year, scoring 73 points (15G / 58A) in 78 games. Look for Dahlin to build on those totals as the star defenseman is, once again, expected to compete for the Norris Trophy.

Lafferty had 12 goals, 15 assists, 102 SOG, 37 PIMs, and a -11 plus/minus through 70 games played with Chicago and Toronto in 2022-23 and has been traded from Toronto to Vancouver for a 2024 fifth-round pick. The 28-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team in his fifth season and has 23 goals and 59 points in 210 career games played.

After being limited to only eight games last season because of his shoulder, Norris' availability for the upcoming season remains up in the air after suffering a setback last week. Any absence for Norris poses major concerns for Ottawa as it leaves a huge void in their second-line center position. Expect Ridley Greig, who recorded nine points (2G / 7A) as a rookie with the Senators last season, to take on a bigger role for the duration of Norris' injury.

“Little bit of — I don’t know if it was a setback — but we’re hopeful he plays on Saturday,” head coach D.J. Smith said when asked about Norris’ surprising absence from the practice on Wednesday. Norris will not play Thursday and is questionable for Saturday's pre-season finale. This leaves his status for the regular season opener in question, a huge issue for the Senators, who haven't re-signed RFA Shane Pinto yet. This could leave them without two of their top-3 centres to start the year.