Buffalo Sabres
Current season record
4–4–3 · 11 pts
Wins–losses–overtime losses · 2026-27
Next game listed by the source
at Anaheim Ducks
Game Analysis →Team information checked Oct 27, 2026.
Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche — Thursday, January 2, 2025 Game Analysis
Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Final/OT.
Game Analysis
Ball Arena
- USALT, KTVD, MSG-B
COL
- Cale Makar (12)
- Ross Colton (12)
- PPMikko Rantanen (22)
- Cale Makar (13)
- Jonathan Drouin (3)
- Devon Toews (3)
BUF
- PPJason Zucker (12)
- Bowen Byram (5)
- PPJason Zucker (13)
- Zach Benson (7)
- Jason Zucker (14)
Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche Game Summary — Thursday, January 2, 2025
By Hockey in 60
Initial summary · A fuller recap will replace this when published.
Colorado Avalanche defeated Buffalo Sabres 6–5 in overtime. The game was played at Ball Arena.
A brief summary of the verified result. Source: ESPN game record. Detailed reporting is shown when available.
Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche Game Analysis — Thursday, January 2, 2025
By Hockey in 60
Colorado Avalanche paired the victory with a 29–21 advantage in shots on goal, accounting for 58.0% of the two teams’ combined shots. That gives the result support beyond the scoreline: the winning side also put more attempts on target. Shot totals alone do not show the quality of those chances or how the balance changed while either team was protecting a lead.
Buffalo Sabres converted 2 of 3 power plays (66.7%); Colorado Avalanche converted 1 of 3 power plays (33.3%). Colorado Avalanche overcame a 1-goal disadvantage in power-play scoring, so its winning edge came from goals recorded outside the power play. Those goals can include even-strength, shorthanded and empty-net situations.
Buffalo Sabres won 55.2% of faceoffs yet was outshot 29–21. The faceoff advantage was not accompanied by a shot-volume advantage in the full-game totals. Winning a draw can provide an initial chance to control the puck, but it does not establish sustained possession or attacking pressure; zone entries, puck recovery and chance-quality data would be needed to explain the disconnect.
Hockey in 60’s interpretation of verified game statistics, highlighting meaningful differences and what they suggest about the result. Comparisons describe this game, not season averages. Source: ESPN game statistics.
Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche Official Game Highlights — Thursday, January 2, 2025
Buffalo Sabres vs Colorado Avalanche Game Statistics — Thursday, January 2, 2025
| Statistic | Buffalo Sabres | Colorado Avalanche |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on goal | 21 | 29 |
| Power-play goals | 2 | 1 |
| Power-play opportunities | 3 | 3 |
| Power-play conversion (%) | 66.7 | 33.3 |
| Faceoffs won (%) | 55.2 | 44.8 |
| Hits | 27 | 31 |
| Blocked shots | 9 | 9 |
| Takeaways | 4 | 9 |
| Giveaways | 7 | 5 |
| Penalty minutes | 8 | 8 |
Source: ESPN game statistics.
Scoring and goaltending
Colorado Avalanche won 6–5 at Ball Arena.
Who scored
- Jason Zucker Goal (12) Tip-In, assists: Jack Quinn (9), Tage Thompson (13)
- Bowen Byram Goal (5) Backhand, assists: Jason Zucker (16), Dylan Cozens (12)
- Jason Zucker Goal (13) Tip-In, assists: Tage Thompson (14), Rasmus Dahlin (21)
- Cale Makar Goal (12) Wrist Shot, assists: Jonathan Drouin (5), Devon Toews (13)
- Ross Colton Goal (12) Wrist Shot, assists: Samuel Girard (16)
- Zach Benson Goal (7) Wrap-around, assists: Peyton Krebs (8), JJ Peterka (17)
- Mikko Rantanen Goal (22) Snap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (48), Casey Mittelstadt (17)
- Jason Zucker Goal (14) Snap Shot, assists: Tage Thompson (15)
- Cale Makar Goal (13) Slap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (49), Devon Toews (14)
- Jonathan Drouin Goal (3) Snap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (50), Mikko Rantanen (34)
- Devon Toews Goal (3) Wrist Shot, assists: none
Goalies
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 23 of 29 for Buffalo Sabres.
- Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 2 of 3 for Colorado Avalanche.
- Scott Wedgewood stopped 14 of 18 for Colorado Avalanche.
Devon Toews Goal (3) Wrist Shot, assists: none That made the score 5–6 in the OT, and Colorado Avalanche stayed ahead.