Buffalo Sabres THIRD PAIR BATTLE heats up with Michael Kesselring finally playing

The Locked On Sabres podcast breaks down the Sabres' 5-3 victory over the Rangers, focusing heavily on the ongoing battle for the third pairing in the lineup. Host Sneaky Joe evaluates Michael Kesselring's return after a month-long absence, praising his speed, physicality, and ability to make critical breakout plays—particularly a key first-period rush that helped relieve pressure in the defensive zone. He contrasts Kesselring favorably with other depth defensemen like Connor Timmons, Luke Shen, and Stanley, citing Timmons' turnovers and lack of elite skill, and expresses skepticism about pairing Stanley with Kesselring due to Stanley’s defensive lapses. Joe advocates for Kesselring to get consistent playing time down the stretch, especially in a potential pairing with Stanley, to test their chemistry and allow Kesselring to showcase his offensive upside. The episode also covers the Sabres’ poor second period, their strong third-period dominance, and standout performances from Ryan McLeod, Jason Zucker, and Zach Benson, who scored his career-high 12th goal. The discussion shifts to the upcoming matchup against the Blue Jackets, with a debate over whether to start Colton Ellis or Uka Pekka Lukanen in goal. Joe leans toward Ellis, citing his recent performance and the statistical disadvantage of back-to-back starts for goalies, even if Lukanen is technically better. He also urges fans to root for Montreal to beat Tampa in regulation to improve Buffalo’s division odds due to tiebreaker implications. The episode closes with a bet recommendation on Peyton Krebs to score an anytime goal at +480 odds.