The Buffalo Sabres are set to face the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on Wednesday. Detroit enters the game leading the Atlantic Division with a 5-1-0 record, having won five consecutive games after losing their season opener to Montreal. The Red Wings’ strong start has been fueled by captain Dylan Larkin and rookie forward Emmitt Finnie.
Buffalo, after an 0-3 start, recorded division wins against Ottawa and Florida before falling in a close contest to Montreal on Monday. Zach Benson continued his productive run during the loss, recording a career-high seven shots and an assist, extending his point streak to three games. He is now one of only three players in Sabres history with six or more assists in the first three games of a season, joining Jack Eichel and Thomas Vanek.
The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and streamed on HBO Max. Fans can also listen via WGR 550 or the Buffalo Sabres App.
Goaltender Colten Ellis is expected to make his NHL debut for Buffalo. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers from St. Louis earlier this month. “Something I’ve worked for my whole life, so there’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went into this moment,” Ellis said. “Just happy that I get to live the dream that I’ve been dreaming, since I started skating, tonight. So, just looking forward to it; just gonna take it all in.
“At the end of the day, (every) time I step on the ice, I want to win a hockey game, so that part of the game doesn’t change.”
Ellis has served as backup to Alex Lyon for Buffalo’s first six games but last played nearly three weeks ago during preseason with St. Louis.
Forward Noah Ostlund is also expected to join the lineup against Detroit after being a healthy scratch on Monday following his recall from Rochester. He centered Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn during the morning skate. Last season with Rochester, Ostlund posted 36 points in 45 regular season games before making his debut with Buffalo.
“I think young guys that step in the lineup, especially the first 10 games maybe, a lot of times they want to make sure they don’t hurt the team before they help them,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “I think last year when he stepped in, the position we were in, he played a really good defensive game, and we didn’t see the offensive capabilities.”
On Detroit’s side, Dylan Larkin was named NHL First Star of the Week on Monday after scoring four goals and nine points over four wins, including a four-point performance against Edmonton on Saturday. Emmitt Finnie has contributed five points while playing alongside Larkin this season as Detroit has outscored opponents 7-1 when both are on the ice at even strength. Lucas Raymond returns from injury but Patrick Kane will miss at least two games due to an upper-body injury.
