Sabres Get Troubling Update on Two Injured Players For Second Round

The Buffalo Sabres continue to be the great Cinderella Story of the 2025-26 season. After making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, their first-round triumph over the Boston Bruins in six games continued the good vibes.

But we're getting troubling news on the injury front as the Sabres get set for their second-round series this coming week against the winner of the Montréal Canadiens-Tampa Bay Lightning Game 7 on Sunday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters that we shouldn't expect to see either of centers Sam Carrick or Noah Ostlund in the second round.

Ruff said he's not anticipating Ostlund or Carrick to be ready for this series. pic.twitter.com/cMOneDDbwC
— Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) May 3, 2026

“I don’t believe either will be available in this series,” Ruff said.

Ostlund, the surprising rookie center who entered the Buffalo lineup in Game 3 and posted a goal and an assist in leading them to a Game 3 victory, suffered a lower-body injury during the first period of Game 5.

Carrick, who came over in a trade from the New York Rangers at the deadline, turned heads in Buffalo with five goals in his first eight games with the team. But he's been out of the Sabres lineup since March 31 after hurting his left arm in a fight with the Islanders' Anders Lee. Carrick remains week-to-week and will not be a factor in the second round.

Why the Ostlund & Carrick updates are extra troubling for the Sabres

The Sabres must now hope and pray for sustained health for their remaining centers, as their depth is seriously depleted down the middle. Of course, the biggest worry there is Josh Norris. The injury-prone veteran already missed three games in their first-round series, and managed to play just 44 contests in the regular season. He's missed 56 of a possible 102 games for Buffalo since being acquired at the trade deadline last season from the Ottawa Senators.

For now, Tyler Kozak will be slotted into fourth-line duties to start the second round, but one more injury in the top nine down the middle would put the Sabres in a very troublesome spot.