Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres improved to 3-1-0 in the 2025 preseason on Saturday with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on home ice.
Sabres center Josh Norris had a goal and two assists on Saturday, while forward Tage Thompson had two goals and an assist.
After the game, Thompson, goalie Alex Lyon and head coach Lindy Ruff said they feel it’s very important for the team to get that winning feeling, even though the games don’t count yet.
Lyon made 26 saves on 28 shots against his former team, and is likely done for the preseason.
Ruff said earlier this week that if possible, he wants Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to play the final two preseason games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Luukkonen had his first day of practice on Thursday after nursing an injury.
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In his two preseason games Lyon went 2-0-0 with a 1.80 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
In his two games this preseason, newcomer Alexandar Georgiev went 0-1-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
Devon Levi played in two games, but only played 40 minutes, while the other two played 100 minutes. Levi went 1-0-0 and stopped all 11 shots he faced.
This year’s first-round pick, defenseman Radim Mrtka, again, had his moments. There were many good things to his game in his 17:03 of action, including reading the play to produce a 2-on-1. He took the pass from last year’s first-round pick, forward Konsta Helenius to tap home his first NHL preseason goal.
Mrtka was also outclassed behind the net by Alex DeBrincat. He fell down as Pat Kane got the puck to score.
It’s something the 18-year-old will learn from going against two top NHL offensive players.
In three preseason games, Mrtka has a goal and an assist for two points, and is a plus-2.
For Helnius and Tyson Kozak, this was their fourth preseason game of the year. Helenius has a goal and two assists for three points, and has shown if the Sabres need to call up a forward, he could fill in nicely.
I think the same goes for Noah Ostlund and Kozak.
Ruff was very impressed with defenseman and 2019 first-round pick Ryan Johnson. This kid was very good for the Rochester Americans in last season’s Calder Cup Playoffs.
"I really liked his game," Ruff said following the win. "I thought aggressive, physical, and he can skate, and sometimes it’s keeping his game under control. But I thought he played a real good game. He was into people, I don’t think people wanted to play against him. I think he irritated some people, and I think it’s the way he needs to play to be effective. I thought tonight was one of the best games I’ve seen him play."
Johnson played just over 18 minutes in Saturday's win.
Coming into training camp, Johnson would’ve been No. 9 on the depth chart for defensemen. But with the way he’s performing, he could be called on right away if there’s an injury.
There are two more preseason games left against the Penguins. Wednesday's game will be played in Buffalo, while the two teams will square off Friday in Pittsburgh.
With the Americans starting their training camp on Monday, 24 players were sent to Rochester by the Sabres after the game: