It was a huge home win and an amazing first NHL game for a Cape Breton hockey player!
Colten Ellis debuted in nets for the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday night.
Buffalo beat the Red Wings 4-2, wrapping up Detroit’s five-game win streak.
According to Sabre Noise, it ended “one of the longest win streaks in the NHL.”
Ellis had to wait about 10 minutes before impressing with some massive saves. He stopped 27 shots and two breakaways.
According to TSN, the 25-year-old goalie is “the eighth Nova Scotia-born goalie in NHL history to win his major league debut and the ninth goalie in Sabres history to win his NHL debut.”
He had lots of fans cheering him on with more than 30 friends and family at KeyBank Center.
Ellis capped off the night by being featured on the TNT Sports post-game interview.
He told TNT it had been a long road to his NHL debut, but remembering the message to “Play where your feet are” has stuck with him throughout.
The River Denys native has played for the Cape Breton West Islanders and in the QMJHL.
His professional playing career began in 2021 with the St. Louis Blues.
Buffalo will host Toronto on Friday.
The Ellis crew showed up in numbers to see Colten's @NHL debut! 😊 pic.twitter.com/x2TcnHCH1I
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 23, 2025
