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Colten Ellis Set to Make NHL Debut Tonight for Buffalo Sabres

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 4:11 PM ET

Tonight, the Buffalo Sabres will take on the Detroit Red Wings in Buffalo. The Sabres at practice today had Colten Ellis in the starter’s crease, signaling he would be making his NHL debut tonight. Following the practice, it was confirmed. The Sabres have had Alex Lyon start all six games to begin the season, and he’s gone 2-4-0. He posted a 2.55 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been out with a lower-body injury. He was just assigned to Rochester in the AHL for a conditioning stint. Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Sabres from the St. Louis Blues back on October 6th. The Blues were hoping to assign Ellis to their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, but the Sabres claimed him.

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Colten Ellis

The Blues drafted Ellis 93rd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the organization in 2021-22 when he played in 34 games with the Worcester Railers, going 15-13-5. Ellis had a 3.21 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and a shutout. He also played in six games for Springfield, going 1-3-3 with a 3.93 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage. In 2022-23, he spent the whole season with the Tulsa Oilers in the ECHL. Ellis went 12-9-5 with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage.

The following season, he played in 21 games with the Orlando Solar Bears, going 12-5-1 with a 2.45 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and a shutout. He also appeared in 16 games for the Thunderbirds, going 7-9-0 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Last season in 42 games with Springfield, he went 22-14-5 with a 2.63 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage, and three shutouts. In three Calder Cup Playoff games, he went 1-2-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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