Danforth finding his footing, Sabres continue tinkering with lines

Justin Danforth is approaching the one-year anniversary of his season-ending injury. It was Oct. 15, 2025, when the veteran forward blocked a shot that broke his kneecap and led to several months of surgery and rehab.

Finally healthy, Danforth has played in Buffalo’s last three games and is finding his footing again on the ice.

“I feel good. I feel like I’m skating back to normal,” he told Sabres.com after Sunday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “I still think there’s some chances out there that I’m leaving on the table right now, but my body feels good. I feel like I’m working hard and doing the right things.”

“… You always kind of take it for granted when you’re healthy, so when an injury like that happens, it puts you back in perspective where you can just appreciate every day. No matter if it’s down times or you’re feeling good or feeling bad, you just show up, do your job, enjoy the day.”

The 33-year-old has averaged 10:05 of ice time per game and is quickly emerging as one of coach Lindy Ruff’s preferred penalty killers. He’s won 13 of 25 faceoffs (52%), and those chances he mentioned include a crossbar in Thursday’s third period against the Stars.

“Danny’s penalty killing has been really good,” Ruff said. “If you look at the scoring chances in the (Dallas) game, he had more scoring chances than a lot of other guys. I thought his puck battle, his tenacity, was excellent. I thought he skated really well.”

Converting scoring chances has been something of a team-wide struggle for the Sabres, who’ve managed just one goal between their last two losses. The team has stressed the importance of getting more bodies to the crease – Tage Thompson called for some “ugly” goals on Saturday – and that hard-nosed style is right up Danforth’s alley.

“Just creating greasy goals sometimes can get the offense firing,” said Danforth, who’s seen time on both the third and fourth lines. It’s unclear whether he’ll play Monday versus Florida after he and Tyson Kozak split practice reps on the fourth line.

Practice also saw the Sabres reunite their previously successful top-two lines: Thompson, Peyton Krebs and Josh Doan on the first; Noah Östlund, Zach Benson and Jack Quinn on the second. New-look lines didn’t pay off in the 4-1 loss to Utah, so Ruff continues to tinker – a typical process this early in the season.

“It’s a crazy league because it’s ‘win now.’ You look at the Mammoth, they came in and they shuffled all their lines before the game, too,” Ruff said. “… We had the luxury last year where there was a good period of time lines stayed pretty consistent, but that isn’t the normal.”

Ellis in net

Colten Ellis had a net to himself, indicating he’ll likely get the start against the Panthers. The second-year goalie has started two of Buffalo’s last three games, going 1-1-0 with an .880 save percentage (six goals on 50 shots).

Monday begins a back-to-back set, so either Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen or Alex Lyon (currently on IR, but practicing) figures to start Tuesday in Montreal.

Kulich, Helenius after healthy scratch

Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius were both healthy scratches from Saturday’s lineup, with Ruff calling for harder compete from those two forwards. The head coach explained his process of sitting and communicating with talented young players like them.

“We have the coaches let them know that they’re not going to be in, the reason they’re not going to be in. But then have the coaches go through the game (footage), ‘This is the area we need you to be better.’ I believe in both those players, but there’s a process of getting in there and being consistent, staying consistent from night to night.”

Practice rushes suggested both guys could be back in the lineup Monday, likely on a line with either Josh Norris or Ryan McLeod.

Up next

The homestand wraps up Monday at 1 p.m. against the division-rival Panthers. MSG’s pregame coverage starts at 12:30, and tickets are still available.