MacKinnon strikes early as Sabres vs. Avalanche live matinee kicks into gear at KeyBank Center
The puck has dropped in Buffalo and Sabres vs. Avalanche live already has bite: Colorado jumped ahead through an early Nathan MacKinnon finish before Buffalo answered to level it up in the first. It’s a Columbus Day matinee on Monday, October 13, 2025—fast, physical, and noisy.
Score & Status — Sabres vs. Avalanche live
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Status: Live (1st period)
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Score: Colorado Avalanche 1–1 Buffalo Sabres
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Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Kickoff (Time Zones)
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USA (ET) — Mon, Oct 13, 12:30 PM
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USA (PT) — Mon, Oct 13, 9:30 AM
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Canada (Toronto) — Mon, Oct 13, 12:30 PM
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UK (London) — Mon, Oct 13, 5:30 PM (BST)
Live Timeline (Key Moments)
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3’–4’: Avalanche strike first: MacKinnon jumps on a loose puck in stride and buries from the slot after crisp build-up work.
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6’–9’: Buffalo pushback—forecheck bites, Alex Lyon keeps it moving quickly the other way, but the Sabres generate multiple looks off the cycle.
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~10’: The hosts find their equalizer, capping a sustained spell in the Colorado zone. The building erupts as the game resets at 1–1.
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12’–16’: End-to-end: Wedgewood tracks a deflection through traffic; at the other end, Lyon gloves a rising wrister.
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Late 1st: Special-teams tension brewing as both benches shorten shifts and chase a momentum swing.
(Events are consolidated to the minute to reflect a fast-updating live flow for Sabres vs. Avalanche live.)
Standout Performers & Turning Points
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Nathan MacKinnon (COL): Sets the tone with the opener; speed through the middle is stretching Buffalo’s gaps.
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Alex Lyon (BUF): Composed after the early punch, reading seam passes and swallowing rebounds to prevent second looks.
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Scott Wedgewood (COL): Calm tracking on tips/screens; rebound control keeping the front clear.
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Colorado blue line: Quick exits under pressure—Makar/Toews handling first passes to spring rush chances.
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Momentum swing: Buffalo’s forecheck mid-period flipped the shot share and produced the tying goal; watch the next power play either way.
Lineups & Shape (if confirmed)
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Avalanche (balanced 4 lines, 3 pairs): G Scott Wedgewood; D core driving exits and joining late. Top six anchored by MacKinnon with high-tempo wingers; depth lines forechecking hard.
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Sabres (up-tempo 4 lines): G Alex Lyon; Dahlin/Power logging heavy touches; Thompson centering the primary scoring line with an emphasis on net-front presence and point shots.
Match Stats (live snapshot)
| Metric | Avalanche | Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | — | — |
| Power plays | — | — |
| Hits | — | — |
| Faceoff % | — | — |
(Totals are volatile early; we’ll emphasize swings and special-teams chances as they settle.)
What It Means — Sabres vs. Avalanche live
For Colorado, an early road punch and a settled Wedgewood outing would underline a 2-0-1 start built on pace and transition. For Buffalo, answering quickly is the spark they needed after an 0-2-0 opening—sustain the forecheck, keep shots layered through screens, and the KeyBank crowd can tilt this matinee. The Central heavyweight versus Atlantic upstart vibe gives Sabres vs. Avalanche live real bite; next goal likely dictates the second-period script.
