Detroit Red Wings @ Buffalo Sabres – October 22nd, 2025 Game Thread

📰 Game Thread – Sabres vs. Detroit  Red  Wings
📅 Date: Tonight
🕢 Puck drop: 7:30 p.m.
📍 Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

🔍 Storylines to watch:

• The Red Wings come into town with momentum winning 5 straight since dropping their season opener to Montreal, so Buffalo will need to assert its game from the start.

• Sabres’ special teams have been a bright spot as of late, if they can capitalize, tonight could swing.

• Detroit’s speed and depth pose a threat; Buffalo’s goaltending and defense must stay sharp.

📊 Key players:

• For Buffalo: Zach Benson has been the difference maker since returning from injury. Benson has 6 assists in the last 3 games for Buffalo. Keep an eye on the top line and power-play unit. Jacob Bryson, Josh Norris, Jordan Greenway, Mason Geertsen, Justin Danforth, Michael Kesselring, and Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen are inactive tonight.

• For Detroit: Dylan Larkin has been red hot to start the year scoring 11 points in just 6 games. Cam Talbot has been rock solid in goal giving up just 1.78 goals against in 3 games. Look for aggressive transitions and chances off the rush. Patrick Kane, Travis Hamonic, Elmer Soderblom, Shai Buium, and Nate Danielson are inactive tonight.

🎯 What to watch:

• Can Buffalo start strong and avoid falling behind early?

• Will their power-play opportunities convert when they matter most?

• Can Colton Ellis stand tall in net for the Sabres in his NHL debut.

Stay tuned for live game updates, momentum swings, and perhaps a pivotal power-play goal that defines the night right here!

1st Period:

20:00- Opening faceoff won by Buffalo and we are under way.

19:25 – Simon Edvinsson for Detorit penalized for tripping, Buffalo’s Power Play will get an early opportunity.

17:25 – Buffalo was able to move the puck well and find good opportunities, just couldn’t score.

16:56 – Axel Sandin-Pellikka penalized for hooking, Buffalo’s Power Play gets another early chance.

14:56 – Tage had one that he should’ve easily scored on, but couldn’t convert. Buffalo’s Power Play is thwarted for the second time early.

14:12 – Buffalo is applying heavy pressure early, even outside of the Power Plays. The offense appears to be clicking tonight.

10:00- Through the opening 10 minutes, Buffalo has dominated. Detroit has yet to really get anything going offensively. The Sabres need to take advantage and find the back of the net.

9:20 – Colton Ellis finally sees a puck come his way and successfully stops it for his first career NHL save.

6:42 – Detroit has started to apply some pressure, but the defense has stood tall and not given up any real quality looks.

3:48 – Buffalo applying pressure again.

:44 – Ellis makes a fantastic save with Lucas Raymond coming at him undefended.

:18 – Zach Benson penalized for slashing. First look of the night at Detroit’s Power Play.

:00 – At the end of the period we’re all knotted up at zero.

1st Period Summary: Buffalo came out of  the gates strong with two good looking Power Plays where despite finding good looks, they could not find the back of the net. Throughout the period Buffalo moved the puck well and did a great job of keeping the pressure on Detroit’s defense. Around the 8 minute mark Detroit started to put things together and put some pressure on Buffalo. The defensive pairings did a good job of keeping any quality looks away from Ellis. Ellis passed the eye test in the period. There were times when he got out of position but was able to recover. Buffalo outshot Detroit 12-5 in the period and will have to kill 1:42 of Benson’s penalty to start the second period.

2nd Period:

20:00 – Detroit wins the opening faceoff and Buffalo will attempt to kill the penalty.

18:17 – Buffalo successfully kills their first penalty of the night.

17:17 – Both teams struggling to get consistent passing.

17:00 J.T. Compher scores in the blue paint for Detroit. 1-0 Red Wings lead

16:27 – Dylan Larkin penalized for high sticking, will get our third look of the night at Buffalo’s Power Play.

14:27 – Tage had a solid look right in front of the net but just couldn’t put it in. Detroit kills Buffalo’s Power Play for a third time this evening.

14:11 – Ellis makes a phenomenal save on Larkin who was coming downhill undefended.

10:00 – Halfway through the game and it feels like Buffalo just needs one to go in to break the dam.

8:23 – Jason Zucker SCORES for the Sabres on a beautiful assist by Jack Quinn. 1-1 is the score.

7:13 – Doan just misses from in front of the net.

4:29 – The fans here do not agree with an icing call, Doan appeared to be first to the puck.

3:32 – Tyson Kozak SCORES for the Sabres, Jack Quinn with another great assist. 2-1 Buffalo leads.

1:40 – Emmitt Finnie scores for Detroit off the assist from Dylan Larkin. 2-2 here in the second.

:00 – At the end of the second period this game is all knotted up at 2 a piece.

2nd Period Summary: The period felt very evenly matched, Buffalo and Detroit traded blows throughout. Buffalo’s offense stayed sharp and were finally able to find paydirt. Jack Quinn was excellent this period with 2 sharp passes leading to goals. Despite giving up 2 goals, Ellis had another strong period in the net. This game is shaping up to be a fun one in the third.

3rd Period:

20:00 – Buffalo wins the face-off to start the period and we are under way.

18:21- Tuch misses a phenomenal look in front of the net.

17:38 – Michael Rasmussen penalized for tripping, Buffalo will get their fourth Power Play of the night.

15:45 – Jack Quinn SCORES for Buffalo on the Power Play, Ryan McLeod with the assist. Buffalo leads 3-2.

12:30 – Buffalo with a phenomenal defensive series thwarts multiple good looks from Detroit.

11:50 – Jack Doan SCORES for Buffalo off a pass from Ryan McLeod. Buffalo leads 4-2.

10:43 – Juri Kulich gets into it was Mason Appleton after Moritz Seider drilled Bowen Byram. Seider is penalized for interference and we’ll get our fifth look at the Buffalo Power Play.

8:43 – Detroit successfully kills the Buffalo Power Play.

7:11 – Juri Kulich has been penalized for holding, we’ll get our second look of the evening at Buffalo’s Penalty Kill.

5:11 – Buffalo successfully kills the Detroit penalty.

3:00 – Detroit has pulled their goalie.

1:00 – Buffalo just has to survive the last minute.

0:00 – Buffalo wins 4-2!