BUFFALO – When the Sabres claimed rookie goalie Colten Ellis off waivers six months ago, it felt like his first trip to the NHL might be fleeting.
After all, they grabbed Ellis to provide insurance after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered another injury late in the preseason. Carrying three goalies, of course, is a luxury, and that roster spot can often be better utilized on a forward or defenseman.
But Ellis, who dazzled Thursday in his first start since Feb. 3, making 37 saves in the Sabres’ 5-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in KeyBank Center, has stuck around all season.
He almost certainly wouldn’t have cleared waivers, so trying to send him to the minors wasn’t an option.
So he has spent most of the season serving as a practice goalie and a game backup, allowing Luukkonen or Alex Lyon to take a full night off instead of dressing.
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Ellis has quietly gone about his business, preparing for his next opportunity.
Most days, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, Ellis is the first player at the rink, part of routine he said “leads to a lot of great habits.”
“He’s the ultimate competitor,” said Ruff, who turned to Ellis for the second back of a back-to-back set after Lyon suffered a muscle strain. “He’s doing a lot of extra skates with our extra players. Every time he steps in the net in practice he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t get scored against.”
That carried into Thursday’s game as Ellis, who relieved Lyon early in Saturday’s 6-2 road loss to the Washington Capitals, recorded his first NHL shutout in his 15th appearance.
“Playing in the NHL, I’m super happy to be in this situation,” Ellis said. “I don’t take it for granted one day so I think it’s just coming back to that every day and having that perspective and coming in and working and trying to get better.”
Ellis looked sharp from the get-go before a noisy capacity crowd of 19,070 fans, making 10 saves in the first period before stopping 14 shots in the second and 13 in the third. The Sabres led 1-0 thanks to winger Peyton Krebs’ early goal until winger Josh Doan scored the first of his two goals 7:19 into the third period. Those early stops were critical.
“He was unbelievable tonight,” said Doan, who ended an eight-game goal drought. “I think you’ve seen throughout the year the progress that he’s made, and he’s become quite the goalie. It’s a little bit of a secret how good he can be, and I think tonight the world got to see what Colten Ellis can do.”
Late in the contest, Ellis made a sprawling stop on Kent Johnson and a point-blank save on Sean Monahan to preserve the shutout.
Ellis’ teammates also helped out in the waning minutes, selling out to block shots with the Sabres comfortably ahead.
“Part of the culture,” Ruff said. “The players understood how well this kid played in front of them. They wanted to repay that with making sure pucks weren’t going to get to the net.”
The Sabres’ 49th win this season kept them in first place in the Atlantic Division with 106 points, two points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens, who on Thursday beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. The Lightning stand in third place with 102 points.
“It’s kind of no secret how tight the standings are,” Ellis said. “To get a win tonight, it’s special for us and for our group. We’re pushing for home ice, pushing to win the division. It’s going to come right down to the last game.”
Two games are left in the regular season, starting with Monday’s road contest against the Chicago Blackhawks.
While Ellis’ exploits will grab most of the attention, the Sabres received contributions up and down the lineup against Columbus.
Doan, as a he has several times this season, created his offense by stripping the puck from an opponent. On Thursday, he victimized Charlie Coyle to score his first goal and reach the 50-point mark.
“I think he wants to stay on the puck,” Ruff said. “I think it can be a skill but I think it’s more will than anything else.”
Later in the period, linemate Zach Benson fed him a nifty pass at the side of the net for his 25th goal.
In Wednesday’s 5-3 road win over the New York Rangers, Doan passed up an easy empty-net goal to give Benson the puck.
“Last night was such an unselfish moment, and I think because of that he got rewarded tonight,” Ruff said.
Sabres winger Jack Quinn also scored, reaching the 20-goal mark. Captain Rasmus Dahlin added a 182-foot empty-net goal.
