Winless Blackhawks Visit Struggling Sabres in Early-Season Desperation Game

Two teams that haven't found the win column yet meet Saturday night at KeyBank Center, and someone has to break through. There's no validated model read for this one, which means the tape and the early-season numbers have to do the talking.

Chicago comes in at 0-2-0, already staring at a hole two games deep with nothing to show for it. Buffalo isn't much better at 0-1-0, but the Sabres at least have the home-ice edge tonight and one fewer loss to their name. Neither team can afford to let this one slip — not this early, not against a fellow bottom-dweller. Spencer Knight is expected to start in net for the Blackhawks, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is projected in goal for Buffalo. Goaltending will matter enormously in a game between two offenses still searching for rhythm.

On the Chicago side, the names to track are Jordan Greenway, who leads the team with 1 goal, and Patrick Kane, who sits at 1 point on the season. Ryan Greene has chipped in 1 assist. That's a thin production line for a team that needs to manufacture offense in a hurry. For Buffalo, Owen Power has been the standout early, posting 2 assists and 2 points to lead the Sabres — a strong start for the defenseman that gives Buffalo a genuine offensive weapon from the blue line. Konsta Helenius has the team's lone goal, giving the Sabres at least one forward who's found the back of the net.

There's no validated model read for this game, so I won't pretend to hand you a clean lean. What I will say is this: Owen Power's early production gives Buffalo a structural advantage — a point-producing defenseman changes how a team can generate offense, and Chicago's group hasn't shown enough yet to make me confident they can neutralize that. Knight will need to be sharp, and the Blackhawks will need more than 1-point performances from their top names to steal two points on the road. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+, CHSN, and MSGB.