BUFFALO – Having spent at least a portion of the last eight seasons in the NHL, the novelty of career firsts has worn off for Sabres goalie Alex Lyon.

Tonight, Lyon, 32, is expected to make his first opening-night start. Don’t get him wrong, he’s looking forward to facing the New York Rangers in KeyBank Center. But he’s trying to maintain his focus as the Sabres begin their grueling six-month, 82-game schedule.

“Honestly, I think it’s just another game for me,” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “Honestly, looking forward to starting the process. You put in a lot of work of the course of the last five months, and so you just hope it all comes to fruition and comes together.”

Of course, earlier in his career – Lyon toiled in the minors for parts of seven years before sticking in the NHL – starting the season opener would’ve been more than just another game.

“To be honest with you, I don’t even know if it’s a learned thing as it’s just maybe a bit of desensitization,” said Lyon, who will likely earn most of the starts as No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovers from a lower-body injury. “You know, you play enough games.”

Lyon has played enough games to understand he can’t get wrapped up in other things.

“We’re trying to play a complete 60 minutes against a very good, very dangerous hockey team,” he said. “So we need to be emotionally and mentally prepared for that. And then after that, the train doesn’t stop again.

“So right now, it’s now you’re entering a very long, tough season, and so I just think you have to be mentally prepared for it.”

The undrafted Lyon signed a two-year, $3 million contract to join the Sabres as a free agent. Before playing 74 games with the Detroit Red Wings over the last two seasons, yo-yoed back and forth between the NHL and AHL.

He said his path in hockey has been “challenging.”

“I think probably like a lot of people in this room, you think you’re never going to make it this far, and so you kind of get to a point where you enjoy it, appreciate it,” he said. “And so I try to appreciate every day I’m here. I haven’t been given anything, like most guys. I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve gotten.

“And so I’m going to continue to do that until they rip the jersey off my back.”

– Sabres defensemen Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson, both of whom recently returned from injuries, practiced again Wednesday and appear ready to play tonight.

With defenseman Michael Kesselring out injured (undisclosed), defenseman Jacob Bryson, who on Wednesday practiced alongside Power, will likely play tonight.

Defenseman Ryan Johnson, 24, will likely sit out the game. He has played 44 games over the last two seasons.

Bryson, 27, has played 254 times over the last the last five years.

“Both players have played well,” Ruff said. “I think Bryson’s experience gives you a little edge sometimes. … Late last year, he was playing against some of the top lines and doing a good job for us.

“With RJ, we know we’ve got a guy that can a little bit more physical side to his game. He can be a type of guy that can get to pucks in a hurry, although him and Brys are really good skaters. We’re kind of comparing the physicality with a little bit of veteran savvy.”

– Alexandar Georgiev on Wednesday cleared waivers but the Sabres did not announce where the goalie will be assigned.