Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It’s been a long time coming for Colten Ellis, but the 25-year-old goalie is going to play his first NHL game on Wednesday as the Buffalo Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings.
Ellis has paid his dues playing 82 games in the ECHL and 64 games in the AHL. The St. Louis Blues didn’t want to waive him, but they already have Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer in goal, so they put him on waivers.
Lindy Ruff said Ellis had been on their radar for a while, so they couldn’t pass up claiming him on Oct. 6. Ellis is of course ecstatic he's getting a game,
“There’s been a lot of emotions the past couple of days since finding out, but it’s something I’ve worked my whole life for and I’m just super grateful and happy for the opportunity.”
Ellis said he’ll have a lot of family here for the game just like Zach Metsa did for his first NHL game in Monday in Montreal.
Another player jumping into the line up is Noah Ostlund. The 2022 first-round pick has four assists in four games with Rochester this season. Last year with the Amerks he netted 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 45 games. He did play eight games with the Sabres last season and he said that experience will help him now,
“It helps a lot, I feel much more comfortable around the guys and I know what to expect on the ice,”
Ostlund is going to be centering Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn. He’s also played some wing, but he likes being in the middle better,
“I prefer center, I think I’m more comfortable there, but I can play wing if they want me to play wing, I feel comfortable doing both.”
Peyton Krebs has struggled quite a bit this season which is why Ostlund is stepping into his spot. Krebs is playing left wing with Tyson Kozak and Beck Malenstyn. Ruff said,
“For sure, I’ve met with him a couple of times and I think there’s more there, I think he has struggled and I think some of it is managing the puck hasn’t been his strong suit, I think his physicality needs to be on the puck better as that was a strength of his, so he’s struggling a little bit to find his game.”
Ruff always says if you win two games and lose one on a consistent basis, you’ll be a playoff team. Buffalo had its two-game winning streak broken in Montreal.
Buffalo has won two straight home games.
Buffalo is 6-1-5 in its last 12 home games against Detroit. Tage Thompson has 23 points in 19 career games against the Wings.
The Sabres have fallen to 28th in league goal scoring. They’re second in the penalty kill at 95.8% and sixth on the powerplay.
The Red Wings have been red-hot with five-straight wins. Detroit leads the Atlantic Division with an .833 points percentage, and are already six points ahead of the Sabres.
After getting pulled on opening night John Gibson has won the last two games giving up just three goals. The night he got pulled against Montreal he gave up five goals in 37:12 of work. Overall, he’s 2-1-0 this season with a 2.99 goals against and .873 save percentage.
Cam Talbot is 3-0-0 with a 1.78 goals against and .932 save percentage.
Pat Kane has two goals and three assists for five points in five games, but he’s hurt and not on the trip.
Captain Dylan Larkin is leading the way with five goals and six assists for 11 points in six games.
Amazingly enough, Alex DeBrincat doesn’t have a goal in six games, but he does have six assists.
Wednesday is a radio only game with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray. Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6:30 p.m. when you’ll hear from Ruff, Ellis and Ostlund.
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