Lyon’s timely saves, including a breakaway stop on Mathew Barzal in overtime, were a key factor in the Sabres’ 3-2 shootout win over the Islanders in Buffalo back in December. That was also the game in which Rasmus Dahlin scored his end-to-end goal on the power play.
The Islanders were without forward Bo Horvat, their leading goal scorer, for that game. Horvat has since missed nine games in January with a separate injury but is expected to be back in the lineup against the Sabres.
Horvat, along with fellow centerman Barzal, helps engineer one of the league’s most productive rush offenses. The Islanders are tied for sixth in the NHL with 45 rush goals, according to Stathletes. (The Sabres rank third in that category with 47 and their next opponent, the Maple Leafs, lead the NHL with 50.)
In Horvat’s absence, New York was boosted by consistent production from forward Anthony Duclair, who has eight goals in his last eight games.
The Islanders have also received their usual steady goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, who leads the league with five shutouts (including two in January).
