Can Tage Thompson carry Olympic form into stretch run? 5 questions facing Sabres
Plus, can the defense and goaltending continue their stellar runs? Who could be coming back from injury soon?
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Tage Thompson won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA on Sunday. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
The Buffalo Sabres have 25 games left in their season, starting Wednesday with a road game against the New Jersey Devils. That’s 25 games to finish what they started and put an end to the franchise’s league-record 14-year playoff drought.
The Sabres are in the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 70 points. According to The Athletic’s NHL playoff odds, the Sabres have a 79 percent chance of making the playoffs. They are playing at a 100-point pace. While the Eastern playoff race has thinned out a bit, there are still four teams outside of the playoffs within seven points of the Sabres and two others within nine points.
Considering the Sabres were in last place in the Eastern Conference in early December, this two-month turnaround has been one of the stories of the league this season. Here are some of the key questions facing the Sabres down the stretch that will determine how that story will end.
1. What will they get out of Norris?
Josh Norris is frustrated. It’s obvious every time he talks, particularly when it comes to the injury issues he’s been unable to escape. Asked about his break, Norris said he didn’t feel like he really needed it. He took a couple of days off and then was back on the ice.“I didn’t really need any time to refresh,” said Norris, who hasn’t played since Jan. 14. “I’ve been out for a while.”
After a day of wearing a no-contact jersey, Norris was back in a regular jersey on Thursday and is on track to return to the lineup when the Sabres play the Devils on Wednesday. Norris, who has never played in the playoffs, said these 25 games will be the biggest he’s ever played in his NHL career. The big question is whether he will be able to play all 25.
Buffalo’s lineup is much stronger with him in it. The Sabres have earned 51 percent of expected goals when he’s on the ice at five-on-five. He’s an asset on the power play. He has 17 points in 19 games, and the Sabres have a 13-6 record when he’s in the lineup, but he’s missed big chunks of time with two separate injuries.
Norris is the biggest X-factor for the Sabres down the stretch.
The Sabres could use Zach Benson back as soon as possible.Timothy T. Ludwig / Imagn Images
2. What’s up with Benson and others on the injury report?
This NHL season has been grueling. The condensed schedule has contributed to an increase in injuries across the league, and the Sabres have been hit as hard as any team. Games lost are inevitable, but the Sabres have a few key players to watch beyond Norris.Zach Benson is dealing with a shoulder injury and still hasn’t returned to practice; Ruff noted that he’s also dealing with a separate issue that the team is trying to get more information on. Ruff said he likely won’t play Wednesday. He could be available by the weekend, but it’s unclear. The Sabres have outscored teams 29-17 during Benson’s five-on-five minutes this season. They need him.
Justin Danforth (broken knee cap) and Conor Timmins (broken leg) could be nice veteran additions to the lineup, but neither has returned to practice yet, either. Jiří Kulich came into camp as a top-six center for this team, but he hasn’t played since the team discovered a blood clot issue early in the season. He’ll be evaluated again in early March. Meanwhile, Jordan Greenway (core muscle) and Michael Kesselring (ankle/knee) have played through injuries this season. Kesselring is practicing in full, but Greenway is still absent and will be trying another treatment option. That’s a long list of injuries.
3. Can the defense and goaltending hold up?
A major reason Buffalo managed to turn its season around is the improved defensive play and the consistent goaltending the team is getting. Since Dec. 9, the Sabres have the best save percentage in the NHL. Their goals-against average is fourth-best in the NHL during that stretch.The good news is the Sabres’ goalies are all healthy coming out of the break. The top-four defensemen, who have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting, are all in a good spot, too. Buffalo’s team approach to defense has been a lot more consistent this season. That will need to continue. But goaltending is a major part of the equation. Alex Lyon has been outstanding, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is returning from injury, has been solid lately as well. Goaltending can be fickle, but the Sabres won’t get to the playoffs without more quality starts from those two and Colten Ellis when he’s called upon.
4. How will Dahlin and Thompson come back from the Olympics?
Tage Thompson is coming back to Buffalo as a gold medalist. Being part of the United States team that beat Canada will be an invaluable experience for Thompson, who still hasn’t played in an NHL playoff game. Thompson wasn’t just a passenger, either. He played a big role and scored some key goals for that team.Rasmus Dahlin didn’t go as far in the tournament, but he was one of Sweden’s best players at the Olympics. Thompson and Dahlin are about to play the biggest NHL games of their careers down the stretch and potentially in the postseason, and they already got a taste of what that will be like.
The question is what they will look like when they get back to Buffalo. Thompson left the semifinal game early with a lower-body injury but played in the gold medal game. Ruff said the Sabres got an encouraging medical report on him. Dahlin took a questionable hit from Brady Tkachuk late in Sweden’s quarterfinal loss to the United States. Dahlin is expected to practice Monday, and Ruff said both players should be available on Wednesday.
Even without injuries, the Olympics is a physically and mentally demanding tournament. Some players returned from the 4 Nations Face-Off last season and dominated the NHL the rest of the season. Others were feeling the wear and tear. The Sabres obviously need Thompson and Dahlin at their best to accomplish their goals.
5. What moves are coming?
For the first time in a long time, the Sabres are in a position to be a true buyer at the NHL trade deadline. Jarmo Kekäläinen, who was Finland’s assistant general manager at the Olympics, only has until March 6 to make additions to Buffalo’s roster. The Sabres need more depth on defense and could use another forward capable of playing meaningful minutes on the top three lines.Buffalo’s prospect pool is well-stocked. Kekäläinen has an opportunity to be aggressive and help push this Sabres lineup over the edge and into the playoffs. He said previously he doesn’t want to undermine the long-term goal of winning a Stanley Cup by making moves with just the playoffs in mind, but a playoff berth would do a lot to repair the reputation of the franchise, invigorate the fan base and provide valuable experience to the Sabres’ young roster.