Sabres edge Islanders for franchise's 2,000th victory

Field Level Media|published: Tue 31st March, 22:22 2026

Mar 31, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) tries to control the puck as New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Peyton Krebs broke a tie late in the third period and the host Buffalo Sabres defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist each and defenseman Bowen Byrum also scored for the Sabres (46-21-8, 100 points), who earned the 2,000th win in franchise history. Josh Norris had two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 saves.

Brayden Schenn notched a goal and an assist while Calum Ritchie and Anders Lee also scored for the Islanders (42-29-5, 89 points), who lost their second straight game. Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots.

Krebs put Buffalo ahead 3-2 with 3:01 left. He put in a one-timer from the slot off the rush, converting a pass from Alex Tuch.

Byrum added an empty-net goal with 1:43 left.

Schenn scored with a second remaining.

Lee tied the game 2-2 with 6:21 left in regulation. His attempted pass out of the left corner went in off the skate of Buffalo defenseman Owen Power.

Thompson gave Buffalo a 2-1 lead 2:40 into the third period with a power-play goal. He beat Sorokin with a snap shot from the high slot.

Ritchie recorded a power-play goal with 2:03 left in the second period to tie it 1-1. He stuffed a cross-crease pass into the open side of the net.

Luukkonen denied Lee on a penalty shot attempt 6:34 into the middle period.

Norris was helped off after Lee's hit from behind along the boards late in the second but returned for the third. There was no penalty on the play, but Buffalo's Sam Carrick fought Lee right off the opening third-period faceoff. Carrick sustained what appeared to be a shoulder or arm injury during the fight and had to be helped off the ice.

Quinn's power-play goal opened the scoring with 5:41 left in the first period. After taking a cross-ice pass from Norris just inside the blue line at the left point, Quinn skated in and scored from the left circle.

New York's Simon Holmstrom did not play because of an upper-body injury. He was replaced in the lineup by Anthony Duclair.

--Field Level Media

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