Buffalo won just 11 home games last season, fewest in the NHL. The Sabres, though, are trying to make it three consecutive home wins today against Colorado off victories against the Rangers on Saturday and Las Vegas on Monday. I don't see the Sabres getting it.

Colorado is the better team and won't lack motivation after skating poorly in a 5-2 loss to Columbus on Tuesday. The Avalanche are likely to have defenseman Patrik Nemeth back along with center Vladislav Kamenev making his season debut.

The Avalanche had backup Philipp Grubauer in net against the Blue Jackets. Semyon Varlamov is expected to be back in goal for Colorado today. He has a strong history against the Sabres with a 6-2-1 record and 2.46 goals-against average in nine starts.

Carter Hutton has started all three of Buffalo's games. Hutton has stopped 78 of 81 shots in the last two games. But I consider him more backup quality than starter.

Colorado has defeated Buffalo in 12 of the past 15 meetings, including going 6-2 the past eight times in Buffalo.