Storylines
1. Debuts for Zellweger, Crevier
Tonight will offer a first look at Buffalo’s two offseason additions on defense, Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier.
Zellweger has opened training camp on a pair with Owen Power, occupying the spot vacated by Bowen Byram’s departure. Zellweger’s shared characteristics with Byram – speed and offensive instincts – have already shown through a few days of practice and in Saturday’s Blue and Gold Scrimmage, but he’ll still have to earn the job full-time.
Crevier, meanwhile, has been a full participant through the early days of camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The 6-foot-8 defenseman has been skating on a pair with Conor Timmins.
2. A second showing for Kulich
The new collective bargaining agreement dictates that veterans of 100 of more career NHL games can play a maximum of two preseason contests.
One player unaffected by that rule: Jiri Kulich, who is the lone skater from Monday’s game set to play again on Tuesday. At age 22, Kulich has 75 career games on his resume.
The Sabres are capitalizing on the opportunity to give Kulich as much runway as possible after he missed most of last season due to a blood clot. He led Sabres forwards with 19:39 of ice time during Monday’s game and had six shot attempts.
3. The Ostlund line
The forward line of Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund and Jack Quinn – all of whom are candidates for breakout seasons in 2026-27 – was Buffalo’s best in Saturday’s Blue and Gold Scrimmage. Ostlund and Quinn scored goals while Benson was his usual, tenacious self.
Assuming the line stays together, tonight will be a chance to see how it fares against outside competition – and a possible preview of a look we’ll see during the regular season.
