Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators

A late-October California road trip usually breaks Eastern Conference teams, exposing tired legs and fractured defensive structure. The Buffalo Sabres just used theirs to build a three-game winning streak.[1][4]

The only difference between Buffalo's run and the Ottawa Senators' concurrent West Coast collapse is what happened in the crease. The Sabres return to KeyBank Center on Wednesday night riding high, while the Senators arrive desperate to stop a slide that threatens their Atlantic Division standing.[1][4]

Buffalo (7-4-3) swept through the California gauntlet, capping the trip with a tight 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. The surge has been powered by Tage Thompson, who earned the NHL's First Star of the Week honors after racking up five goals and three assists over his last three games.[1][2]

Thompson's 10 goals and 17 points have provided a massive offensive safety net for a team still finding its defensive identity. He is not operating alone. Zach Benson has tallied a team-leading 11 assists, while Jack Quinn has chipped in eight goals to give Buffalo a genuine secondary scoring threat.[2]

That depth has allowed the Sabres to outscore their mistakes, most notably in a chaotic 7-6 victory over the Anaheim Ducks last Thursday. "We didn't get it done and that's what we've got to be better at the next game in Buffalo," Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot said following a disastrous 6-3 loss to those same Ducks on Sunday.[1][2]

"If you took the special teams out, I'd be really happy with the game," Chabot added. His frustration is warranted. Ottawa (9-6-1) blew a three-goal lead against Anaheim, surrendering six unanswered goals—including four on the penalty kill.[1]

The Senators have gone 4-5-1 over their last 10 games, a slump directly tied to the absence of starting goaltender Linus Ullmark. Ullmark suffered a lower-body strain on October 21, 2026, and remains on injured reserve. Before the injury, he was carrying a 6-1-0 record with a league-leading 1.33 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.[1][4]

In his absence, the Senators have allowed 27 goals across six games, leaning heavily on backup Samuel Ersson. Ersson has struggled under the increased workload, posting an .866 save percentage and a 3.79 goals-against average.[2][4]

While Ullmark returned to the ice for team practice on Tuesday to face shooters, head coach Travis Green called it merely "a step in the right direction." Ersson is confirmed to start Wednesday, setting up a vulnerable Ottawa defense against a Buffalo offense that has scored 12 goals during its three-game streak.[1][2][3]

The Sabres have their own goaltending questions, though they are currently masked by offensive production. Colten Ellis, who posted a 23-save shutout in San Jose on October 27, is expected to start. Ellis holds a 3-1-0 record but allowed six goals on 35 shots in that shootout win over Anaheim.[2][3]

The standings add immediate weight to Wednesday's clash. Ottawa sits in fourth place in the Atlantic with 19 points, but Buffalo trails by just two points while holding two games in hand. A regulation win for the Sabres would erase the gap entirely, flipping the divisional hierarchy before the first week of November is finished.[1][3][5]

Buffalo will also get a critical defensive boost. Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that defenseman Conor Timmins is available to make his season debut after recovering from a preseason lower-body injury.[3]

Timmins averaged over three minutes of shorthanded ice time per game last season, a necessary addition for a Sabres penalty kill that currently ranks 28th in the league at 68.6 percent. The Senators, meanwhile, are patching holes up front despite strong individual starts from Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson.[3][6]

Warren Foegele was moved to injured reserve with a knee injury sustained against Vegas, joining Andre Burakovsky and William Eklund on the sidelines. Ottawa recalled Philip Tomasino and Xavier Bourgault to fill the gaps.[3][6]

For Ottawa, the formula is simple: tighten the defensive structure in front of Ersson or risk falling out of the playoff picture before Thanksgiving. For Buffalo, the challenge is translating road dominance to KeyBank Center, where they have scored just 14 goals in six games this season.[2][4]

The Sabres will debut their new blue "Hometown Remix" alternate jerseys on Wednesday, hoping the fresh look coincides with a statement divisional win. If Thompson maintains his blistering pace and the penalty kill stabilizes, Buffalo has the firepower to push Ottawa further into its November slide.[1][3]