The Buffalo Sabres lost a tough overtime decision in Game 5 against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. But the game wasn’t the only thing the Sabres lost.
22-year-old forward Noah Ostlund left the game in the first period after colliding with a former Sabre, Casey Mittelstadt. Ostlund left the game and did not return.
During a media availability on Wednesday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff addressed Ostlund’s injury, stating that he would miss some time.
That’s no bueno. But the injury news could get even worse for Buffalo. According to a renowned medical expert, Dr. Harjas Grewal, Ostlund could end up missing a considerable chunk of time. The notable physician believes that an MCL injury could have befallen Ostlund.
If that’s the case, the prognosis could be a week-to-week absence.
Grewal added that there could also be an ankle component to the injury. That situation could make the timeline for Ostlund’s return even more complicated.
In Ostlund’s place, center Josh Norris, who is also coming off an injury, will draw into the lineup.
It’s too bad that the Sabres will likely lose Ostlund for the foreseeable future. The former first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft had a goal and an assist in Buffalo’s Game 3 win over the Bruins.
Perhaps the Sabres can play long enough for Ostlund to recover and get back into the lineup.
Ostlund Has Dealt with Injuries Late in the Season
This season hasn’t been easy for Ostlund. While he appeared in 60 regular-season contests, he’s had to deal with injuries late in the season. Most notably, he sustained an upper-body injury in late March. He missed the final batch of games down the stretch, returning just in time for Game 3 of the Sabres-Bruins first-round matchup in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ostlund’s return was a welcome one as the Sabres lost Norris in Game 2. Ostlund’s return sparked the Sabres’ Game 3 and 4 wins. Unfortunately, the injury bug struck again for the Swedish forward.
It’s worth pointing out that Ostlund is just one of numerous Buffalo players currently on the shelf.
Sabres Dealing with Numerous Injuries
In addition to Ostlund, the Sabres have been dealing with numerous players on the shelf. Forwards Jiri Kulich, Sam Carrick, and Justin Danforth are all out with various ailments.
Meanwhile, goaltender Colten Ellis is also on the mend. Ellis, in particular, has been an interesting revelation this season. The rookie netminder has played well when in the lineup. His play early in the season offset the time starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen missed this year.
The Sabres have proven to be a deep team. Despite the injuries, the players coming into the lineup have been solid. Moving forward, the expectation will be for Buffalo to avoid dealing with any more injuries.
Of course, that’s not easy in the postseason. But if the Sabres are to get past the Bruins and into the second round, they’ll need to rely on some good injury luck.
The Sabres and Bruins will meet on Thursday night in Game 6 in Boston. Buffalo will be looking to close out the series, while the Bruins will hope to live to fight another day.
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