### Buffalo Sabres Extend Winning Streak to Five with Shootout Victory Over Islanders The Buffalo Sabres have demonstrated impressive form, securing their fifth consecutive win by defeating the New York Islanders 3-2 in a shootout on December 21, 2025. This victory was highlighted by Josh Norris scoring the decisive goal in the shootout, while Rasmus Dahlin contributed with a goal and an assist. Tage Thompson continued his scoring streak, netting a goal for the sixth straight game. The Sabres' goaltender, Alex Lyon, made 32 saves and assisted on Dahlin's goal, showcasing a strong performance. The Islanders, missing their leading scorer Bo Horvat, faced their third loss in four games, despite Mathew Barzal's goal and an assist, and Emil Heineman's late equalizer that forced the game into a shootout [https://apnews.com/article/islanders-sabres-score-460ba8de4cd66957773f8cb7fe798bd0][https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-islanders-buffalo-sabres-game-recap-december-20-2025]. ### Breakdown of the Sabres' Recent Performance 1. **Game Highlights**: - The Sabres defeated the Islanders 3-2 in a shootout, marking their fifth straight win. - Key players included Josh Norris (shootout winner), Rasmus Dahlin (goal and assist), and Tage Thompson (goal in sixth consecutive game) [https://apnews.com/article/islanders-sabres-score-460ba8de4cd66957773f8cb7fe798bd0]. 2. **Previous Game Against Flyers**: - Prior to the Islanders game, the Sabres won 5-3 against the Philadelphia Flyers, extending their winning streak to four games. - Tage Thompson and Noah Ostlund scored crucial goals late in the second period to secure the victory [https://apnews.com/article/flyers-sabres-score-60e8601db6ab41becbb9860c5caeb445][https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-buffalo-sabres-game-recap-december-18-2025]. 3. **Coaching Milestone**: - The win against the Flyers marked the 915th career victory for Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, placing him fourth on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list [https://apnews.com/article/flyers-sabres-score-60e8601db6ab41becbb9860c5caeb445]. 4. **Impact of Player Absences**: - The Islanders struggled without their leading scorer Bo Horvat, which has contributed to their recent losses [https://apnews.com/article/islanders-sabres-score-460ba8de4cd66957773f8cb7fe798bd0]. ### Supporting Evidence of Sabres' Dominance - **Recent Game Results**: - **Sabres vs. Islanders**: 3-2 (Shootout) [https://apnews.com/article/islanders-sabres-score-460ba8de4cd66957773f8cb7fe798bd0]. - **Sabres vs. Flyers**: 5-3 [https://apnews.com/article/flyers-sabres-score-60e8601db6ab41becbb9860c5caeb445]. - **Key Player Statistics**: - **Tage Thompson**: Scored in six consecutive games. - **Rasmus Dahlin**: Contributed with a goal and an assist in the latest game. - **Josh Norris**: Scored the decisive shootout goal against the Islanders. ### Conclusion: Sabres' Winning Streak and Future Outlook The Buffalo Sabres are currently on a roll, having won five straight games, including a thrilling shootout victory over the Islanders. Their recent performances highlight the contributions of key players like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, as well as the strategic coaching of Lindy Ruff. The absence of key players on opposing teams, such as Bo Horvat for the Islanders, has also played a role in the Sabres' success. Moving forward, the Sabres will look to maintain their momentum as they continue their season [https://apnews.com/article/islanders-sabres-score-460ba8de4cd66957773f8cb7fe798bd0][https://apnews.com/article/flyers-sabres-score-60e8601db6ab41becbb9860c5caeb445].