The Buffalo Sabres open a critical five-game homestand tonight against the Colorado Avalanche at KeyBank Center. Both teams are seeking to stabilize their performances as they enter this matchup with recent struggles and key storylines surrounding former teammates now on opposite benches.
How to Watch:
- TV: MSG
- Streaming (Out of Market): ESPN+
- Radio: WGR 550
Key Storylines:
1. Bowen Byram’s First Game vs. Colorado
The game marks Bowen Byram‘s first appearance against his former team since being acquired by the Sabres in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt last March. Byram, a cornerstone defenseman for Colorado during their 2022 Stanley Cup run, has emerged as an impactful addition to Buffalo’s blue line.
Byram enters tonight’s game with 14 even-strength points, tying him for sixth among NHL defensemen this season. With Buffalo outscoring opponents 25-16 at 5-on-5 when Byram is on the ice, his transition to Buffalo has been seamless. The 23-year-old hopes to balance the emotion of facing his old team with Buffalo’s focus on ending a three-game skid.
2. Casey Mittelstadt’s Return to Buffalo
Meanwhile, Casey Mittelstadt will also face his former club for the first time since the trade. A Sabres first-round pick in 2017, Mittelstadt now finds himself playing a key role for the Avalanche. While Colorado’s offensive stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar dominate the headlines, Mittelstadt’s secondary scoring (18 points this season) will be crucial against a Sabres defense that can push the pace.
3. Breaking the Sabres’ Offensive Drought
Buffalo has been shut out twice in their last three games despite generating a high volume of shots (39, 34, and 29, respectively). Head coach Lindy Ruff emphasized the need for smarter plays around the net and increased physicality to capitalize on scoring chances.
Players like Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka, who have struggled to convert recently, will be leaned upon to rekindle Buffalo’s offensive spark. The Sabres’ 5-on-5 shot attempt share of 52.5% ranks sixth in the NHL, underscoring their need to translate possession into goals.
4. Colorado’s Defensive Woes
The Avalanche enter tonight with one of the league’s worst defensive records, allowing 4.4 goals per game over their last five contests. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has struggled, posting a .875 save percentage this season. Meanwhile, Colorado’s new backup, Scott Wedgewood, will likely be unavailable as he adjusts to the Avalanche system following his trade from Nashville.
Injuries to key depth players like Ross Colton and Miles Wood further exacerbate Colorado’s challenges, leaving them heavily reliant on their high-powered stars to outscore their issues on the backend.
Lineup Notes:
Buffalo has shuffled its top six to spark its offense, with Jason Zucker joining Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson on the top line. JJ Peterka slides onto a revamped second line alongside Dylan Cozens and Zach Benson, who bring a mix of creativity and youthful energy.
On the blue line, Byram will pair with Rasmus Dahlin, forming a dynamic duo capable of controlling play at both ends of the ice.
Injuries: Jordan Greenway (lower body, IR), Sam Lafferty (lower body), and Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) remain out for Buffalo.
Game Notes and Stats:
- Buffalo’s Record: 11-11-2 (24 points, 5th Atlantic)
- Colorado’s Record: 13-12-0 (26 points, 4th Central)
- The Sabres rank sixth in 5-on-5 shot attempt share (52.9%) this season.
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen owns a .925 save percentage in his last three starts against Colorado.
- Colorado’s power play (6th in the NHL) has accounted for 24% of their goals this season.
- Rasmus Dahlin is one goal away from tying Mike Ramsey for the second-most career goals by a Sabres defenseman.
Buffalo Sabres Projected Lineup and Injury Updates for Game vs. Colorado Avalanche (From NHL.com)
Avalanche projected lineup
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Nikolai Kovalenko — Casey Mittelstadt — Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta — Ivan Ivan — Logan O’Connor
Nikita Prishchepov — Parker Kelly — Chris Wagner
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Alexandar Georgiev
Scott Wedgewood
Scratched: Keaton Middleton
Injured: Josh Manson (upper body), Jonathan Drouin (upper body), Ross Colton (broken foot), Oliver Kylington (undisclosed), Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Tucker Poolman (head), Miles Wood (upper body)
Sabres projected lineup
Jason Zucker — Tage Thompson — Alex Tuch
Zach Benson — Dylan Cozens — JJ Peterka
Jiri Kulich — Ryan McLeod — Jack Quinn
Beck Malenstyn — Peyton Krebs — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Rasmus Dahlin — Bowen Byram
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Scratched: Dennis Gilbert, Tyson Kozak
Injured: Sam Lafferty (lower body), Jordan Greenway (middle body), Mattias Samuelsson (lower body)
Head-to-Head Outlook:
Buffalo and Colorado have split their last 20 matchups in regulation, highlighting the parity between these two franchises. The Sabres’ ability to capitalize on Colorado’s defensive struggles will be key as they look to reignite their offensive output.
With both teams battling for momentum, tonight’s matchup promises to deliver an intense and emotional showdown on the ice. Will Bowen Byram or Casey Mittelstadt make the bigger impact? Tune in at 7 PM to find out.