Colten Ellis will start at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, a turn in net that gives Buffalo a look at a goalie who has barely played in recent weeks. Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reported the start.
Ellis has handled 14 appearances this year and is 7-4-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average and a.895 save percentage. The numbers are steady enough to keep him in the conversation, even after a stretch of minimal work that left him waiting for his next chance.
The start also fits the way Buffalo is lining up the final week of the regular season. Ellis is expected to serve as the No. 2 option behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen over that stretch, with Alex Lyon considered week-to-week and the door open for Ellis to be the starter in the playoffs if the situation pushes that way.
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That is where Thursday matters most. It is not just another game on the schedule; it is a live test of how much the Sabres trust their depth when the calendar tightens and the goaltending picture is still unsettled. Luukkonen remains the top choice, but with Lyon uncertain and Ellis getting the nod now, Buffalo is making the kind of move that can shape how the position looks when the games matter most.
For Ellis, the assignment is simple and unforgiving. He gets the home net against Columbus, and one clean start could do more for his standing than weeks of watching from the side.
