Mon Oct 13 16:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the text:
**Sabres Look to Right the Ship as Homestand Begins Against Avalanche**
**Buffalo, NY** – The Buffalo Sabres return to KeyBank Center today with a pressing need for a victory as they kick off a three-game homestand against the formidable Colorado Avalanche. After a disappointing 0-2-0 start to the season, including a stinging loss to the Boston Bruins where Head Coach Lindy Ruff criticized the team’s compete level, the Sabres are facing early-season pressure.
“We have to just raise our level of compete,” Ruff stated bluntly after the Boston game. “I thought our compete was terrible.”
The Sabres hope the familiar ice of KeyBank Center will provide a boost. The schedule favors Buffalo with five of their next six games at home, including four divisional matchups. But first, they must contend with the Avalanche, who boast a 2-0-1 record.
Forward Jason Zucker emphasized the team’s need for immediate action. “The urgency has got to be there,” he said.
Ruff shuffled the forward lines in an attempt to spark the team in Boston, notably elevating Josh Doan to play alongside Jiri Kulich and Tage Thompson. That line combination will continue to start today’s game.
“He worked hard,” Ruff said of Doan. “Moved him up. The guys I thought were going, I tried to get them in a better position to help us out. I think some of those changes helped.”
The Avalanche arrive in Buffalo powered by the dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. MacKinnon and Necas both have at least a point in each of Colorado’s three games, and the Avalanche have outscored opponents 4-0 when the two have shared the ice at 5-on-5 (according to Natural Stat Trick). Necas leads the team with three goals.
Sabres fans can catch the game on MSG (local broadcast) or stream it on the Gotham Sports App and ESPN+ (out-of-market). Puck drop is scheduled for [Game Time].
First Piper 