Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff will be making history on Monday when his team faces off against the Florida Panthers.

Welcome to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey break down the slate using matchup context, recent form, and underlying data analytics to project likely outcomes.

The Buffalo Sabres plan to take an aggressive approach to the 2026 NHL trade deadline under new general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen, according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Buffalo Sabres vs. New York Rangers NHL game from January 8, 2026 on ESPN.

The Sabres were coming off a 5-1 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets that ended their 10-game winning streak. They built a 4-0 lead in the third period, but the Canucks scored three straight goals to make it a one-goal game with 4:05 remaining.