There was a temptation to just write off the Buffalo Sabres. They are a team on the rise that is still building out its NHL roster. Then, two of its most important forwards went down. Jack Eichel was the first, with his high ankle sprain that is expected to sideline him for up to two months. Then came Evander Kane, who cracked his ribs crashing into the end boards against the Montreal Canadiens.
In a league where every team is compressed in the standings, it’s going to be the teams that stay healthy that have the edge when all else is equal. This isn’t a good start on that front for the Sabres. But their play since Eichel and Kane went down suggests they might be able to withstand it.
Buffalo is on a Western Canadian swing that continues tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, and the early showing without its two key forwards has been strong. They crushed the Oilers on Sunday, then lost in overtime to the Flames on Tuesday in a game that was very much theirs for the taking.
Along the way, the Sabres have convinced observers around the league that the Eichel injury isn’t going to sink them.
“[It’s] never easy to withstand the loss of top players, but I think they can and will,” one Western Conference GM said.
The biggest reason noted by multiple Western Conference executives watching the Sabres as they wrap up their trip west is Ryan O'Reilly.
“O’Reilly is a star,” the GM said.
Yeah, it’s probably time we recognize him as such, especially given how seamlessly he fit in with Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey. The Sabres are seen as Eichel’s team -- and they eventually will be -- but right now, O’Reilly is their most well-rounded player. He might also be their most important player.
When he was acquired, it looked as if he could serve as a placeholder in the middle while Eichel and Sam Reinhart developed as the key centers in Buffalo.
But this isn't some graybeard; he’s still only 25 years old. These, right now, are the best seasons of his career.
He averaged 0.85 points per game in his first season with the Sabres, and it’s not a stretch to suggest he will push a point-per-game pace this season. He has five points through three games, and he’s winning more than 60 percent of his faceoffs.
The combination of O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo is a tough matchup for opposing teams.
“Okposo is back and that helps,” another Western Conference executive said. “O’Reilly was really good. Their top line was really good. They played a good road game against the Oilers, taking away their speed.”
This executive pointed out that the Sabres have depth up front they didn’t have in previous seasons. Reinhart is more experienced. The addition of Okposo really helps.
And you have to love the comments coming from O’Reilly after the loss to the Flames. This is a guy who was already a real competitor but who was exposed to the best in the world in guys like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby while winning the World Cup with Team Canada. It all helps in his development.
The Sabres got a point on the road in Calgary, a decent accomplishment for a young, banged-up team, but O’Reilly didn’t sound all that impressed in comments to The Buffalo News.
“We were lucky to get one point, really,” he said. “The way we played was pathetic at times and it starts with myself. I had so many chances. I have to bury them. ... We could have walked away with a win here, and we have to respond now.”
The Sabres can survive the injuries in part because of the positions where they occurred. They lost Evander Kane and plugged in Kyle Okposo. They lost Eichel and O’Reilly can step up.
Where this team has no margin for error is on defense. One executive praised the way Josh Gorges competed against Connor McDavid in the win over Edmonton and praised the Sabres' team play. That said, if the injuries spread to the defense in a similar fashion, it might be more than the Sabres can handle. Buffalo is built to withstand hits up front. Depth on the back end is still a work in progress.
“I’m not a huge fan of their D,” another executive said. “Their best group is their forwards.”
Then he added one other thought: “I don’t trust their goaltending.”
Robin Lehner is going to have to be better than he’s been so far for the Sabres to continue their attempts to remain in the playoff race without Eichel. Through three games, he has a .890 save percentage. The Sabres have a .871 save percentage at even strength.
They’re also controlling just 42.3 percent of the even-strength shot attempts. Combine that with the goaltending and it usually doesn’t bode well long term for a team.
To survive beyond this road trip, the Sabres will need Lehner to improve. They’ll also have to find a way to spend more time in the offensive zone.
They’re relying on the power play, with only two teams scoring more than the Sabres' four power-play goals, and that’s not a way to succeed long term.
But the Sabres are in survival mode. They’re down two players. They’re out West on a tough road trip, and they’re picking up points. Right now, that’s the focus.
“[They’re] playing a sound team game, getting solid goaltending and they have a balanced offense,” the GM said. “Impressed with them.”