BUFFALO – By his second season toiling away in the ECHL, Sabres goalie Colten Ellis said hockey began to feel like a job.

Ellis, 25, spent most his rookie year stopping pucks in Worcester, Massachusetts, before the St. Louis Blues assigned him to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for his second season.

Almost two years into his career, he had played just six games for the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ AHL affiliate.

He said he forgot to enjoy hockey as the pressure overwhelmed him.

Then 27 games into 2022-23, Ellis, who backed up Sabres goalie Alex Lyon in Thursday’s season opener against the New York Rangers in KeyBank Center, underwent season-ending hip surgery. After he left the Tulsa Oilers to rehab 2,300 miles away at home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, he discovered how much he missed hockey.

The injury turned out to be a blessing that ignited his fledgling career.

“I think really having that time off helped me develop more of a passion for the game that I think I might have been lacking,” Ellis said following Wednesday’s practice. “Just grinding it out and realizing that I’m doing this because I love to do it.”

Ellis, who on Monday was claimed off waivers, said his fresh mindset helped him embrace the ups and downs that accompany the rigors of pro hockey.

“And realize at that point that it’s just something I want to do for as long as I can,” he said.

Ellis said he wanted to dig deeper into his craft.

“(I) was more excited to go to the rink every day and have fun with everything,” he said.

When Ellis recovered from his injury, he played 21 games for the Orlando Solar Bears before Springfield summoned him in January 2024.

He hasn’t played a game in the ECHL since then. But those days in the low minors molded into the netminder he is today.

“I think that was an important part of my path,” Ellis said.

Over the last season and a half, he developed into a notable prospect. Last year, he compiled a 22-14-3 record with a 2.63 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and three shutouts in 42 games for Springfield.

His exploits grabbed the Sabres’ attention, and when St. Louis waived him for an assignment to Springfield, they added him.

On Thursday, Ellis dressed for his first NHL game. In the near future, as the Sabres wait for No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to recover from his lower-body injury, he will likely make his debut.

“He will get his chance to play here,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

In his first days in town, the 6-foot-1, 191-pound Ellis – “Highly competitive, great personality,” Ruff said – has stood out on and off the ice.

“He seems like just an awesome guy,” Ruff said. “I think you look at the first practice, a couple saves he made, I think guys kind of shook their head a couple times. But he’s the type of guy that wants to hang around, take shots after practice. He wants to keep working and keep getting better.”

Ellis said he’s “an athletic goalie.”

“I really battle out there, try to bring a calming presence to my team and for myself, just being able to read the play and do it it under pressure,” he said.

– The Sabres had two surprise scratches against the Rangers.

Defenseman Owen Power, who recently missed a week because of a strain, sat out because of illness. Meanwhile, winger Zach Benson missed the opener after taking a puck to the face in Wednesday’s practice. He returned to the session after receiving treatment.

Both players are day to day, according to the team.

Defenseman Ryan Johnson and winger Mason Geertsen moved into the lineup.

Before the game, it sounded like Johnson would be scratched but possibly earn an opportunity Saturday in Boston against the Bruins. He skated alongside Jacob Bryson.

Geertsen skated at left wing alongside center Justin Danforth and Beck Malenstyn. Peyton Krebs, who has been pivoting that line, moved up to left wing on the top line alongside center Josh Norris and Tage Thompson.

– The Rochester Americans, who open their season tonight against the Toronto Marlies at Blue Cross Arena, have named defenseman Zachary Metsa captain.

Forwards Josh Dunne, Carson Meyer and Brendan Warren and defenseman Jack Rathbone were named alternate captains.