San Jose, Calif. (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres looked like the team that won the Atlantic Division last season on Tuesday, helping goalie Colten Ellis to his second-career shutout and a 2-0 win in San Jose over the Sharks.
The Sabres blocked a season-high 20 shots, killed three penalties, and crashed the net all game long. At the other end, Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov only made one mistake, and was equally as spectacular as Ellis, other than that.
Ellis made 23 saves, while Askarov earned second star honors with 38 stops. I can't tell you how many times I wrote in my notes, "Big save", for both goaltenders.
The desperation was apparent right off the bat. Sabres defenseman Louis Crevier took a delay of game penalty at 1:45, and in 11 seconds, forward Josh Norris outworked two Sharks to break in on Askarov shorthanded, drawing a slashing penalty from forward Mason Marchment to even things up.
Right after that, Buffalo did get sloppy with the puck, giving the newest NHL superstar, Macklin Celebrini, a wide-open chance in the slot. However, Ellis was set and made a huge save.
The young netminder admitted after the game how big a save that was for him.
Don't forget that Ellis had gotten pulled in his last start on Oct. 12 against the Florida Panthers, letting two goals go through him. He obviously didn't let that linger into this start, and that save gave him juice.
The top-four defensemen for Buffalo were really on their games, killing plays and frustrating the Sharks throughout the night.
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin agreed after the game that at both ends of the ice, this was his best game, along with his partner Mattias Samuelsson. Both were their old selves, killing plays with their reach and strength.
It seemed like every time Sabres forwards Beck Malenstyn, Jason Zucker, Zach Benson and Norris were on the ice, there was utter chaos around Askarov's crease.
By the way, Askarov was the 11th overall pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft, and former Sabres forward Mike Grier acquired him for the Sharks in a trade in August of 2024.
The only goal the Russian netminder let in he would want back.
Sabres defenseman Olen Zellweger had been on the ice for 50 seconds and probably should've changed, but he saw an opening to get up ice. Konsta Helenius was put at his natural position of center, and he raced up ice with the puck and sent the defenseman through the left circle.
Yes, it was a good shot from Zellweger, but any NHL goaltender would tell you they should've had it.
Zellweger also saved a goal in the third period when a puck got past Ellis, but he sprawled to knock the puck away from the goal line with his glove. He and his partner Owen Power both had strong games in their own end too.
Power added two assists and with 11 points in 12 games, is tied with Jack Quinn as Buffalo's leading scorer.
For the first time all season, the Sabres entered the third period with a lead. Last season, they were excellent protecting one-goal leads in the final 20 minutes, and they haven't forgotten how to do it. The desperation and will to win was all there for the third period.
The empty-net goal was an example of the drive behind Benson's game. Even though he hadn't scored a goal this season, he does have seven assists. He utterly embarrassed rookie, and this year's second overall pick Ivar Stenberg by outworking him, taking the puck and depositing it into the empty net.
Buffalo has now killed off it's last eight penalties, and much of it has been the willingness to do what it takes to get that penalty killed. That has moved them from the bottom of the league to 25th in the NHL at 71.4%.
The Sabres did move up the standings, but remain three points out of the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference. They are also three points out of second place in the Atlantic Division, and six points back of the first place Boston Bruins.
The team had Wednesday off before facing the Ducks in Anaheim on Thursday.
