Two injuries create a tougher Round 2 puzzle for Lindy Ruff and the Sabres

This is no longer just a two-name injury note.

Ostlund is expected to miss at least Round 2 with a lower-body injury after leaving Game 5 against Boston.

Sam Carrick’s case has shifted. He was first expected to miss the series, but his left arm has improved enough that he could practice Tuesday, but no guarantees that he plays in Round 2 yet.

That matters because Buffalo is facing Montreal, and Ruff’s bottom six now has to survive without clean center depth.

Ostlund gave Buffalo quick playoff value with 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 first-round games.

Carrick brought a different layer after the deadline, scoring 5 goals in 13 games with the Sabres.

The bigger issue is not replacing one player. It is replacing two different jobs at once.

Ostlund gave Ruff speed, controlled entries, and a young center who could keep pace when the matchup opened up.

Carrick gave Buffalo faceoff detail and harder bottom-six minutes, winning 57.3 percent of his draws with the team.

If Carrick returns during Round 2, the Sabres get a stabilizer back. If he does not, Ruff has to patch the bench with less margin.

That puts more weight on Josh Norris, and it also changes how Ruff can protect younger forwards on the road.

Buffalo can still win this series. But this injury update turns Round 2 into a real depth exam, not just a matchup story.

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