Alex Lyon makes 26 saves, ties Buffalo record with 9th straight win as Sabres blank Islanders 5-0

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Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (17) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Islanders players celebrate after the puck gets past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) but was later ruled not a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa) — Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker (17) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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1:25 PM on Saturday, January 24

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Tucker scored twice and Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots and tied a Buffalo record with his ninth straight victory as the Sabres beat the New York Islanders 5-0 Saturday.

Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch also scored as the Sabres won their third straight and for the fifth time in seven games. Ryan McLeod and Mattias Samuelsson each had two assists.

Lyon, who signed with the Sabres in July after two seasons with Detroit, recorded the sixth shutout of his career and tied the Buffalo record of Gerry Desjardins (1976-77) with nine consecutive wins.

Buffalo improved to 18-3-1 in its last 22 games.

David Rittich made 16 saves for the Islanders, who were playing their first home game after a seven-game trip in which they went 3-3-1.

Rittich, who last started on Jan. 17 against Calgary, entered the game with a 4-2-2 record 2.46 goals-against average versus Buffalo. He slipped to 11-7-3 this season.

Zucker opened the scoring 33 seconds into the second period, scoring on a wrist shot, offa rebound of a shot by Jack Quinn. Thompson extended the lead to two goals, scoring past a sliding Rittich at 19:47 of the second.

Zucker's second goal of the game, 25 seconds into the third, stretched the lead to 3-0. Dahlin scored into an empty net at 14:02 of the period and Tuch completed the scoring approximately 30 seconds later by tipping a shot from Samuelsson by Rittich.

Bo Horvat was back on the ice with the Islanders after being sidelined for nine games due to a lower-body injury.

Up next

Sabres: At Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Islanders: At Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

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