Update (11:07 a.m. ET, Saturday): Buffalo’s probable starting goaltender has changed. Colten Ellis is now projected to start in net for the Sabres, replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was listed as the probable starter in the original preview. Karel Vejmelka remains Utah’s probable starter.
The Utah Mammoth visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, Oct. 10, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. This Mammoth vs Sabres preview now centers on a goaltending change, with Utah carrying a 3-2-0 record into the non-conference matchup while Buffalo sits at 2-2-0. The game marks the first meeting between the two clubs this season.
Utah Mammoth Vs Buffalo Sabres Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSGB, Utah 16
- Series: Non-conference matchup, first meeting of the season
How Do The Teams’ Records Compare So Far?
Utah sits third in the Central Division at 3-2-0, good for six points. Buffalo is 2-2-0 in the Atlantic Division, also with four points through four games. Both clubs are still working through the early stretch of the schedule, and neither has picked up an overtime loss point yet this season, according to the standings.
Last season offered a different picture at these venues. Buffalo finished 50-23-9 overall and 28-13-7 at home, while Utah went 43-33-6 overall and 22-18-4 on the road, context that shows both teams performing reasonably well in their respective settings a year ago.
Who Is Expected To Start In Goal?
The Mammoth vs Sabres goalies matchup now looks different than it did earlier in the week. Karel Vejmelka remains Utah’s probable starting goaltender, but Colten Ellis is now projected to start for Buffalo in place of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, per the official data. Both designations remain projections until the lineups are finalized at game time.
Vejmelka has been busy of late. He made 30 saves in a 5-3 win over the Devils, according to CBS Sports, and has started three of Utah’s first four games this season, going 2-1-0 with one shutout, a 2.02 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. He finished second in the NHL last season with 38 wins in 63 starts, posting a 2.75 GAA and a .897 save percentage. He also made 18 saves in Utah’s 4-2 loss to the Rangers on Oct. 4, according to ESPN, and 15 saves in the Mammoth’s 6-0 win over the Blackhawks, per NHL.com.
Buffalo’s goaltending depth remains thin. Alex Lyon (upper body) and Topias Leinonen (lower body) are both on injured reserve, with Lyon listed for an Oct. 24 return and Leinonen also projected back Oct. 24, leaving Ellis as the Sabres’ option between the pipes for this matchup.
What Do The Injury Reports Show?
Buffalo’s injury list is the longer of the two. Conor Timmins (lower body) is projected to return Oct. 17, and Jack Rathbone (undisclosed) is projected for Oct. 24. Jason Zucker, recovering from abdomen surgery, has a projected return date of Oct. 15.
Utah’s situation is lighter. Maveric Lamoureux (shoulder) is on injured reserve with a projected return in February 2027, and Michael Carcone is day-to-day with an undisclosed issue, projected to be available for Saturday’s game.
Who Leads Each Team Offensively?
Nick Schmaltz paces Utah with five goals and a team-high seven points, while Clayton Keller leads the Mammoth with six assists. Buffalo’s offense runs through Tage Thompson, who has two goals, and Owen Power, who leads the Sabres with four assists and five points from the blue line.
The season totals back up Utah’s offensive edge. The Mammoth have outscored opponents 18-14 with 51 total points on the stat sheet, an .882 save percentage and a 53.1% faceoff rate. Buffalo has scored 10 goals against 15 allowed, with a .813 save percentage and a 47.3% faceoff rate. Utah also carries eight power-play goals already this season, building on a 2024-25 campaign in which the Mammoth converted on 46 power plays out of 232 chances.
Key Matchup: Utah’s Power Play Against Buffalo’s Penalty Discipline
Utah’s power play has already produced eight goals and 15 assists through five games, numbers that stand out against Buffalo’s penalty history. The Sabres committed 316 total penalties last season, averaging 3.9 penalty minutes situations per game and 9.7 penalty minutes served per contest. With Ellis now in goal for Buffalo instead of the more experienced Luukkonen, Utah’s man-advantage unit could see added chances to extend an early-season scoring edge that already shows 18 goals on 161 shots for a team shooting percentage of 11.2%.
What To Watch
Both teams are still shaping their identities early in the 2026-27 season, and this non-conference game gives each a chance to build on uneven starts. Utah looks to keep pace in a competitive Central Division where it currently sits three points back of division-leading Winnipeg. Buffalo, meanwhile, is trying to stay within range of the Atlantic Division’s upper tier, where Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Florida and Boston are all tied or ahead on points.
Fans can track more on Utah’s recent stretch through the Mammoth’s matchup against the Rangers and the win over the Blue Jackets. Buffalo’s schedule included a recent shutout loss to the Stars and an earlier test detailed in the Blackhawks vs. Sabres preview.
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