The Buffalo Sabres head into Saturday night trying to shake off a 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, a game that turned fast once the second period got away from them. They were hanging around early, but four Dallas goals in that middle frame blew it open and left Buffalo with no way back.
Utah is coming in with its own bruised ego after a 6-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday, so this one sets up with both teams looking to reset. For the Sabres, there are a few players who could shape how that reset looks.
Colten Ellis looks like the likeliest choice in goal, even though nothing has been officially confirmed. Alex Lyon still doesn’t appear close to returning from his shoulder injury, and after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s outing against the Stars, Lindy Ruff has little reason to send him right back out there.
That puts Ellis in line for a big chance. He started against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and gave Buffalo a solid night, allowing only two goals. If he brings that kind of performance against Utah, the Sabres may have to seriously think about giving him the starter’s job or at least a much larger share of the workload going forward.
Josh Doan also brings a storyline worth watching. During the 2025 offseason, Buffalo and Utah were part of a three-player trade that sent J.J.
Peterka to Utah in exchange for Doan and Michael Kesselring. More than a year later, Doan is the only one left from that deal for either club, with Peterka now in Boston after a summer trade and Kesselring having been dealt to San Jose.
Doan’s season has not gone the way he’d want. He hasn’t matched last year’s impact and was dropped to the fourth line for Thursday’s game against the Stars. That makes Saturday a pretty obvious chance to hit the reset button, and the early question is whether Lindy Ruff keeps him in the lineup and puts him back with Tage Thompson on the top line or leaves him on the fourth unit.
Konsta Helenius is another name with something to prove. He opened the season with a goal in Buffalo’s first game against Columbus, but the production has dried up since then. Through three games, he has just four shots on goal and a minus-3 rating.
Against Dallas, he posted the Sabres’ second-lowest xGF% at 21.21 and had what was probably his roughest game so far. That’s part of the learning curve for a rookie in a full NHL season, but Buffalo is also searching for answers after losing Alex Tuch. Helenius has the skill to become part of that solution, and this game gives him another chance to show he can be a real piece of the offense.
In Other News...
Sabres Goalie Situation Could Force A Bigger Roster Move
The Sabres goaltending picture already looks crowded, and it could get even busier if Buffalo follows through on its reported interest in Connor Hellebuyck. With three goalies currently on the roster, adding a player of that caliber would not just raise the ceiling in net, it would force the front office to make some uncomfortable decisions about how to clear room.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon would be the names to watch if Buffalo has to turn over the depth chart, and there should be no shortage of possible landing spots around the league. Teams such as the Rangers, Devils and Kings all have their own goalie questions, which gives the Sabres some potential trade flexibility if they decide to keep pushing on the bigger move. [Read more 🡒]
Lindy Ruff Sends A Clear Message With Sabres Lineup Shakeup
The Sabres are making a noticeable change in net for their upcoming matchup with the Utah Mammoth, turning to Colten Ellis instead of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Ellis earned the look after helping Buffalo to a recent victory, while Luukkonen has been in a rough stretch in his starts, giving Lindy Ruff a reason to try a different voice and a different feel at the position.
Ruff is not stopping there. Buffalo also plans to add Tyson Kozak and Sam Carrick into the lineup in an effort to inject some energy and tighten the group ahead of another important game. It reads like a clear message from the coach: the Sabres want more pace, more push and a sharper edge from the players stepping in. [Read more 🡒]