Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Over the course of the 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres season, we’ll be looking back after every five games, inspired by head coach Lindy Ruff’s philosophy of gaining six points out of a possible 10 in every five-game stretch. We will recap the previous segment of games, and share some thoughts on what was seen on the ice.
Here's a look back at the last five games for Buffalo:
Game 1: Mammoth score five unanswered to smite Sabres
Buffalo made their second trip to Utah to play the Mammoth for the second time in eight days, fresh off a third straight loss to start their road trip. The Sabres needed a solid performance to stabilize their season.
Isak Rosen and Jack Quinn broke open a sleepy start from both squads after Quinn made a nice play to beat his man off the wall, while Rosen forced just enough separation to get a stick on Quinn’s shot pass and tip in the first of the contest.
The remainder of the period was decent for the Sabres, some back and forth action was seen but no change in score. Buffalo entered the intermission up 1-0 and in good position.
Rosen would add his second of the game from Noah Ostlund at 6:42 of the first, hammering home a one-timer to finish off a nice rush passing play. Buffalo pulled out to a 2-0 lead, with contributions from some of their young players. A crucial piece if the Sabres want to tread water amidst their injury crisis.
Another crucial part of finding team success when playing without some of your best players is playing stingy defense and holding onto leads when you get them. Buffalo provided themselves an opportunity to check that box as well with a 2 goal lead and a little over half a game to play.
Unfortunately the Sabres were unable to get to the third before their lead was slashed in half.
A little over halfway through the middle frame, a chaotic rush chance for Utah ended up squirting back to the point for Western New York native Nick DeSimone. He blasted a slapshot by Buffalo netminder Colten Ellis.
The second period ended with Buffalo up 2-1, still in good position to lock the game down and bank a pair of points.
Former Sabre JJ Peterka wasted no time in the third though, as he slithered through the Buffalo zone and dinked a snap shot in on the short side to even the game at 2.
Okay, leads gone, momentum going the wrong way, you’ve lost three straight. Adversity has hit the Sabres bench. Will they finally step up in the moment and do what’s required, or will they shrink in the spotlight as many fans have come to expect?
It took Utah 2:30 minutes to take the lead for the first time in the game. Lawson Crouse drove the net from a sharp angle and roofed a shot over Ellis’ shoulder to make it 3-2 Utah. Definitely a shot that should be stopped, and once again it comes in a back breaking moment.
This seemed to break Buffalo, from this point on they seemed to stand and watch the game blow by them.
Nick Schmaltz would add another to make it 4-2 thanks to Clayton Keller outworking both Michael Kesselring and Jordan Greenway on the wall and slipping a sneaky pass to the slot which Schmaltz fired into the net.
Keller would add an empty netter for good measure, making it 5 unanswered from the Mammoth as they extend the Sabres losing streak to four.
No matter how shorthanded you may be, handing over 5 straight to blow up a 2 goal lead your least experienced forward earned you is unacceptable.
After another disappointing loss, the Sabres attention now turns to the second half of their back to back with the Colorado Avalanche, who many see as the top team in the NHL at this point in the year.
Related
Game 2: Avalanche beat up on Sabres
Buffalo arrives in Denver to face their mirror image. Colorado was coming off their fourth straight win atop their division and the world, Buffalo their fourth straight loss, in the basement of the Atlantic playing short on players and with little confidence.
Predictably, Colorado shot out to a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game. Martin Necas was sprung in on a breakaway by a gorgeous stretch pass from Makar and put a shifty move on Alex Lyon before roofing the first of the game.
The Avs doubled their lead on a strong net drive by Artturi Lehkonen, who buried a juicy rebound left by Lyon right in front.
The Sabres would get in on the high octane first just under 8 minutes in. After a similarly poor rebound from Avs goalie Mackenzie Blackwood the puck was sitting in the crease, Bowen Byram recognized the opportunity and put it home to cut the deficit to 1.
The chaos continued in the first as Brock Nelson would pot Colorado’s third goal before the halfway point of the period. Another quick transition by the Avs ends up in the Sabres net as Buffalo just didn’t have the legs to keep up with their speedy opponents.
Greenway capped off a 5 goal first period with his first of the year to make it 3-2 Avs. Greenway blitzed at the net after a good zone entry by Owen Power and Josh Doan and chipped a one-timer in.
The second period had a similar pace to the first, with the Sabres seeming to catch their wind a bit. However the goaltenders were able to reign their games in and slow the scoring down.
The scoring could only be staved off so long though, with just over 5:00 left in the second, Tage Thompson scored a classic TNT one-timer on the power play to tie the game at 3.
However the Avalanche were able to stifle the Sabres energy once again with a goal of their own just 1:26 after the equalizer. Gavin Brindley caught a pass in transition with a full head of steam which he carried into the Sabres zone, and blew a long-range wrist shot past Luukkonnen. The Avs make it 4-3 on a shot every NHL goaltender expects to stop.
This would spell the end of the Sabres hopes to win the game. The Sabres looked flat and uninspired for the remainder of the second and most of the third.
Thompson did generate a few good chances for the Sabres, but they failed to tie the game before Necas potted his second of the game with 3:07 remaining. Gabriel Landeskog added an empty netter to seal it. Colorado’s pace and aggression proved too much for the Sabres as they fell to 0-3 on the road trip.
Related
Game 3: Sabres charge back to beat Red Wings
Buffalo came into the final game of their road trip against the Detroit Red Wings having lost 5 straight, missing big time players, and with as dark a cloud as you’ll find hovering over a hockey team.
They did get a massive boost at the morning skate, with captain Rasmus Dahlin making his return to the team after a short leave of absence to be with his Fiancee as she recovers from a major medical operation. The Sabres leader and best player returns with the season teetering on the edge of disaster, hoping to break the losing streak and get things back on track.
One note I feel needs to be mentioned, the Sabres decided to go with rookie goaltender Colten Ellis in the third NHL game of his career. In an absolute must win game. On the road, against an opponent he has already seen.
This is indicative of what the Sabres think of their situation in goal. Ruff and his staff believe that a 25 year old who has played a grand total of three games in the entirety of his NHL career gives them a better shot to win than their two veteran options. Okay, let’s see…
It was a relatively tame start to the game, with both teams trading chances back and forth, until Buffalo native Patrick Kane found himself alone at the side of the Buffalo net available for an easy tip in pass from Ben Chiarot.
Buffalo was able to even the score less than a minute later though- Alex Tuch was the last to touch a puck that found its way over the goal line amidst a hurricane of bodies flying around the crease. An ugly goal is still a goal, and the Sabres needed one there.
The remainder of the first ticked by with limited action, finishing knotted at 1 with both squads only mustering 5 shots on net.
Alex Debrincat scored a nifty backhander to make it 2-1 Detroit 3:52 into the second period after a sloppy play in the defensive zone by Byram led to a turnover in front of the Buffalo goal.
Dylan Larkin would add to the Red Wings lead a couple minutes later after controlling a zone entry, and executing a quick give & go with Lucas Raymond. Careless play in the defensive zone put the Sabres into a 2 goal hole early in the second.
The pressure sustained, leading to a power play for the Red Wings where Debrincat potted his second of the period on a bang-bang back door play.
The Sabres found themselves down 4-1, chasing the game and the season as a whole. The time was now to flip a switch and find a way to at least compete in the game and give themselves a chance for a win on their first extended road trip of the year.
The Sabres seemed to be jolted by the sudden flurry of Red Wings goals. They got their feet under them, and began playing the strong brand we’ve seen when they have success.
Their efforts in the remainder of the second were rewarded with Doan's 5th of the season. Off an offensive zone draw, Dahlin sifted a wrist shot to the net, which Doan tipped by goaltender John Gibson.
Buffalo needed a huge third period as they entered the room still down a pair after two.
After a solid few minutes to start the third, Thompson picked up a puck in his d-zone and got chugging up ice in a hurry. He blew by both Red Wings defenders and drove to the far post, slipping it past Gibson as he flew through the air Bobby Orr style. It was a gorgeous goal that energized the team and gave them confidence.
They rode the wave, skating the Red Wings up and down the ice until Peyton Krebs took a tripping minor to put Detroit on the man advantage just about halfway through the period.
The elite penalty kill that has propped up the Sabres so many times already this year was faced with another pressure moment.
They rose up in the moment.
After effectively killing off the majority of the power play, Ryan McLeod made a great read to poke the puck off Seider. He turned on the jets, pulling away on a clear cut shorthanded breakaway, and he made no mistake. He buried a shot after a quick stickhandle in the slot, and tied the game at 4 with 10:32 remaining.
Both teams would get another power play opportunity, but neither was successful. The Sabres were able to charge back after trailing 4-1 in the second period. An impressive feat, but a point was still up for grabs with a division rival. Buffalo needed to break their trend of poor play in overtime and complete the comeback.
Just a minute into overtime, Thompson carried the puck into the attacking zone and had a shot attempt blocked. He stuck with it, finding the bouncing puck as he threw Debrincat into the boards to give himself space to slip a pass to the slot for Mattias Samuelsson. He walked right down Broadway and blew a wrist shot by Gibson, and the comeback was complete.
It was an impressive recovery after a poor start, and a huge 2 points in the standings. Ellis found a way to give them a chance, and the Sabres top players rewarded him with a dominant third and a comeback win.
Related
Game 4: Sabres shut down McDavid and the Oilers
Buffalo returned home to the Keybank Center to face an Oilers team that while slumping, is as dangerous as any in the league. The time was now to string together some wins and get the season back on track. Ellis got the start again as Ruff wanted to ride the hot hand, and tasked the young netminder with halting one of the most potent offenses around.
That offense featuring Connor McDavid made itself known immediately, as McDavid found Zach Hyman open in the slot, and Ellis was forced to make a massive stop just seconds into the game.
The save seemed to wake the team up in a flash, and Buffalo played an even first period from there. A testament to what a timely save can provide for the team.
It took until the final minute of the first period for the game's first goal. On the power play, Rosen lasered a pass down to Ostlund who was at the side of the cage, which he corralled and quickly slipped it around Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner. An impressive play from Ostlund as he continues to impress in his call up opportunity.
The Oilers were able to answer and tie the game 4:29 into the second period. Jack Roslovic fired a quick one-timer from the slot that beat Ellis to the corner of the net.
Ellis and the Sabres seemed unfazed though, and stuck with their game. They played with a newfound confidence, jumping all over the Oilers at every chance.
After a flurry of action midway through the second, a bouncing puck found its way to Tyson Kozak’s stick. He passed up a great shot to slide it across to Byram, who fired the puck over Skinner’s shoulder and in to put the Sabres ahead 2-1.
Just over a minute later, Beck Malenstyn tipped in a point shot from Dahlin to extend Buffalo’s lead. This was essentially the end of the game, as the Sabres smothered McDavid & Co all over the ice.
Ostlund posted his second of the game and 3rd of the season after winning a puck battle and moving his feet to get into a great scoring area. He beat Skinner with a slick shot from the top of the circle.
Thompson added an empty netter thanks to an errant drop pass from McDavid to put a cap on what was the Sabres most complete performance of the season.
Buffalo showed everything you’d ask for in this one. They shut down the best player on the planet, scored 5 goals, dominated physically, and had a goalie make some huge saves. There was an air of confidence in the room. Could they ride the wave and find a third straight win to hit Ruff’s goal?
Related
Game 5: Sabres fall flat against Flames
Buffalo entered the final game of this set at home to face the 32nd place team in the NHL, on the second game of a back-to-back with travel, playing their backup goaltender, and carrying momentum from a pair of huge wins. In other words, the Sabres have been given a situation that should be easily taken advantage of.
The Sabres had an effective opening few minutes, but after a disjointed power play by Buffalo Calgary stole some momentum.
The Flames broke out to an early lead after Rasmus Andersson buried a juicy rebound from Ellis, who was starting his 5th game of the season,
and 3rd in a row.
The Flames would net their second of the game as they continued to carry play. Nazem Kadri made a great play to find Joel Farabee in front of the crease alone, and he shoveled it through Ellis’ 5-hole.
Dahlin thought he had the Sabres first of the night on a nice bar and in shot, but much to the Keybank center fans’ dismay, Thompson made contact with Calgary netminder Devin Cooley and the goal was called back.
Ellis was forced to make a few great saves on the penalty kill before the period expired, but the Sabres head to the room down 2 after 1 to the worst team in the NHL.
The Sabres found their legs to start the second, generating a few great chances but electing to make the extra pass, killing their opportunities without a shot.
They stuck with it, and the game started to look how the Sabres envisioned it. Dominating possession, transitioning with pace, and playing as a unit. They were rewarded with their first (official) goal of the game thanks to a beautiful shot from Samuelsson off the halfwall.
Buffalo continued to dominate, hardly allowing Calgary to hold the puck. With 4:03 remaining in the second, Thompson hammered a one-timer past Cooley that was so hard that thanks to my goalie roots, I flinched from the press box.
Calgary pushed in the final minutes of the second, but Ellis stood strong and made some confident stops. Just like that the Sabres even the score, and head into a third period tied at 2.
The Sabres only got a couple of minutes into the third before Rosen was caught puck watching as his man Morgan Frost chipped in a back door pass to take back the lead.
Another lapse of focus in the defensive zone by Tuch left Mikael Backlund alone and able to bat in a bouncing puck and stretch the Flames lead to 2.
The misery of the third period would get even worse for Buffalo before the halfway mark even passed, with Farabee’s second of the game coming on a breakaway shot that beat Ellis to the blocker side.
Matt Coranato scored the final goal of the game with a one-timer that bounced up off the glass, over the net, off Ellis’s pad, and in.
The remainder of this Wednesday night matchup bled away in front of a mostly empty Keybank Center, and the Sabres failed to get even a point in what was a dream scheduling scenario.
Related
Highlight players
Mattias Samuelsson has revived his game after a seriously disappointing last season that had the GM feeling it necessary to address rumors of a buyout. He has been an effective defender, transporter of the puck, and has added a bit more of the snarl many fans felt he was missing. On top of his expected areas of impact, he has been producing offensively at a far higher clip than anyone would have expected. Samuelsson has already registered four goals and six assists for 10 points through 18 games.
Colten Ellis has emerged as a real piece for the Sabres in this set of games. After playing four of the five, there is buzz that Buffalo may have a new #1 goaltender. In my opinion, it is still early to declare him trustworthy of 40+ games at the NHL level, but his play has been promising. He reads the game well, skates efficiently, and battles when it’s needed. He shows an unwavering mentality, seemingly composed no matter the situation. His puck handling is also worth a mention here, it is an underrated asset in a goaltender and Ellis is extremely efficient with the puck on his stick. His strong play and some bumps for his two counterparts in Lyon and Luukkonnen make for a fascinating rotation that may take all season to figure out. Three goaltender rotations are notoriously difficult to manage.
Tage Thompson has also picked up his game after a slow start. After being moved back to center in the Detroit game, the TNT of old seemed to reemerge. He looked to be moving his feet, driving play, and taking over a bit more. Thompson accounted for 4 goals and 2 assists in these five games, and eliminated some of the simple mistakes from his game. He needs to keep up this trend if he wants to accomplish his goal of playing for Team USA at this year's Olympic Games.
Noah Ostlund and Isak Rosen have both been performing well in their call up action. Rosen scored 2 goals and 2 assists in this set, while Ostlund had 2 goals and 1 assist. Both players have found themselves on the first unit, though that’s likely to change soon as the Sabres are getting Jason Zucker and Zach Benson back soon, with Josh Norris likely following close behind. It’s unlikely both Rosen and Ostlund will stay with the big club, but both have made their case well.
Sabres fall short again, gaining 4-of-10 points
After falling short of their goals in three of the four sets so far this year, Buffalo finds themselves needing to go on a seven or eight game win streak to get back on pace. A tall task for a team that can’t seem to handle not getting on their high horse after winning just two straight. Falling short in the next set could (and should) mean jobs could be lost, players could be traded, and fans left feeling hopeless. Something all too familiar to fans in a market that deserves far better, and has for 14 long years. There is still time to turn this around, but it is running out fast. The Sabres will face the Blackhawks, Hurricanes, Penguins, Devils, and Wild in their next 5 game set.
Related
