Sabres Key Forward OUT for Game 3; Skilled Rookie Set for Playoff Debut

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Joshua Norris can’t catch a break. The Buffalo Sabres will be without the key center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling right following Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not appear to suffer a major hit in the previous contest, but the ailment has sidelined him for at least one game.

It’s certainly a significant short-term blow for Buffalo—especially after falling to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to even the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first-ever playoff action, had been a reliable contributor through the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes of ice time, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of his faceoffs, and helped the Sabres control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he posted 34 points in 44 games despite missing time with upper-body issues, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from the third-line role.

Fortunately, the Sabres are getting a timely boost with the return of rookie Noah Ostlund. Morning line rushes showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ spot as the third-line center, flanked likely by familiar wingers.

Ostlund—set to make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut—had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury suffered against Boston—nearly a month on the shelf—but looked ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign that saw him tally 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense, and two-way potential, there are some concerns. Primarily deployed on the wing during the season, he struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 lbs) in what has been a bruising series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical toll.