The Sabres are shifting into a goalie rotation, and Colten Ellis looks set to get the first turn.
With Buffalo opening a busy stretch of six games in 11 days against the Ottawa Senators, coach Lindy Ruff said he plans to start alternating his goaltenders rather than riding the hot hand. Ellis, who picked up two road wins last week, is expected to start tonight.
That call comes after a strong run from the 24-year-old netminder. On Oct.
27, Ellis made his first appearance in 15 days and stopped 23 shots in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. Coming off his second NHL shutout, he followed that up Thursday by turning aside 29 shots in Buffalo’s wild 7-6 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
“He works really hard at his game,” Ruff said. “He’s prepared.
The time off doesn’t seem to affect him. Maybe (it affects) other goaltenders a little bit more, but it doesn’t seem to affect him as much.”
The Sabres may soon have even more depth in net. Alex Lyon is expected back from a left shoulder injury in the coming days, which would give Buffalo three goalies on its 23-man roster unless an injury changes the picture. The team used three goalies for much of last season, and Ruff said that setup proved useful.
“It’s really been our strength,” Ruff said. “If you look back last year, not that you want this, but it seemed like as somebody was getting healthy, somebody else got a little banged up. Toward the end of the year, we ended up with three, but we know that all three guys can help us win hockey games.
“I think we’ve seen around the league where you lose a goaltender, and you start searching for one. Having that extra guy is really valuable.”
Buffalo also has a couple of lineup decisions hanging over the night. Ruff said center Jiri Kulich, who has been dealing with a concussion, and defenseman Conor Timmins, who has a lower-body injury, are available to play. Still, their exit from the ice after the optional morning skate suggests both may sit out against Ottawa.
The Sabres are also trying to clean up their home ice start as they begin a four-game homestand. They’re only 3-3-0 at KeyBank Center this season and have repeatedly put themselves behind the eight ball by falling into multi-goal deficits.
“That was yesterday’s conversation about playing better at home, getting off to better starts at home and playing better at home,” Ruff said. “Part of that, I think, is playing a simpler game.”
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Detroit has reportedly tried to widen the market by asking Larkins camp to add more possible destinations, including teams like Buffalo, but his side has not budged. For a Sabres team still looking to strengthen its center situation, that leaves the front office staring at a target that is at least for now out of reach, and it underscores how much leverage elite players can still hold in a trade conversation. [Read more 🡒]