Buffalo Sabres playoff hockey is officially back! It’s been a long time coming since the Sabres coined the term “Hockey Heaven” in 2011. It’s been more “Hockey Hell” the last 14 seasons, with some close but missed opportunities to break the drought with pieces, but never falling into place just right to build a consistent winner.

Fortunately, your Atlantic Division champions will host the Boston Bruins in the first round, which should be an exciting matchup. Normally, I extensively cover Buffalo Bills injuries, but due to catching a bout of playoff fever, I’m dipping my toes back into Sabres injuries as I have when I occasionally published articles at Die By The Blade when they were with SB Nation.

Today’s article will break down the injuries for the Sabres vs. Bruins first-round matchup.

Buffalo Sabres Injuries

Sam Carrick (Left Elbow/Shoulder)

Carrick has been out with a left arm injury since March 31. He fought the Islanders’ Anders Lee. He fought valiantly until his left arm became compromised while holding onto Lee’s jersey and fell, holding his left arm. He required assistance getting off the ice and was diagnosed with a left arm injury.

Carrick vs Lee. Carrick ended up hurt and needed help off the ice. #LetsGoBuffalo #Sabrehood #Isles pic.twitter.com/3U5dv8yxx4

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) April 1, 2026

My initial thought was that this was a shoulder injury, specifically a torn labrum, given how his arm was cocked back when he fell. However, the average time to return is 10.2 days, and he has not returned to the ice as of publication. Either the Sabres have been keeping him out to allow for more rehab, or it’s more likely that he injured his elbow in the scuffle.

Considering how he grabbed the jersey and had his arm cocked back, there was also potential for a dislocated elbow. This was not something I had considered initially, since the shoulder was placed in its end range, and then he fell.

There isn’t a lot of research available on elbow dislocations within the NHL. Another contact sport, the NFL, has players return on average about 25 days, which would fit this timeline that Carrick is potentially on. This would take him to the last full week of April, but on April 16th, Ruff reported that he wouldn’t be available for the Boston series. I would expect to see him slowly get back onto the ice in order to be ready for the second round should the Sabres win.

Once he returns to full motion, he will still likely need to wear a hinged brace under his sweater to protect the area from further damage. This is his non-shooting side, which means his grip on the stick may be affected, and his ability to absorb contact may be compromised, but he should still be able to shoot and pass. I’d advise him to avoid fighting at all costs, though.

Justin Danforth (Patellar Fracture)

Danforth has been out since October 15th. He suffered a fractured patella, also known as a kneecap. This is usually due to a direct blow to the knee. He was expected to miss a significant amount of time, and the media has provided sporadic updates. As of March 6, he was skating on and off, which suggests he is either still slowly building endurance or still experiencing soreness as he increases his workload.

The average time for an athlete to miss due to a patellar fracture is 217 days. As of the first playoff game on Saturday, it will have only been 186 days. If we take the average time a player misses, he is looking at another month before he can return, though it’s possible he returns sooner. I expect he misses the first round and potentially the second before a discussion to return in early May can take place.

Alex Lyon (Lower Body)

Lyon has been out dealing with a lower-body issue after leaving a morning skate on April 8. He was expected to miss about a week, but on April 15, reports surfaced that he would not be ready for the opening playoff game.

He suffered a lower-body injury in late December that cost him 11 games before he returned in mid-January. It’s unclear whether this current injury is related to the previous one.

There was a chance that he could return sometime during the first round, but without more information, it’s hard to determine the exact issue he is dealing with. Ruff stated on April 16 that he would return to practice on April 17 and expected him to slowly work back into the lineup as the series progresses. My guess is that this is a groin issue, given the movements required of a goalie, but until he returns, Luukkonen is in between the pipes.

Jiri Kulich (Blood Clots)

Kulcich has been out since November 10, when he was diagnosed with a blood clot. A blood clot is a collection of platelets that stick together in a vein and block the flow of blood. These can become dislodged and go to the brain, causing a stroke, or to the heart, causing a heart attack, or to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. All these could result in death if not addressed immediately.

Timelines for blood clots vary widely. The individual needs to be placed on blood thinners to break up the blood clot and prevent future ones. Sometimes the surgeon has to go in and remove the blood clot, a procedure called a thrombectomy. Kulich can continue to work out on his own, but cannot have contact, as the blood thinners will cause him to bleed more easily if he suffers a cut or could cause internal bleeding if he takes a hard hit. Team doctors also need to understand the underlying cause of the blood clots before the patient can return.

There haven’t been any reports that he is nearing a return, and on March 6, it was announced that he would not return this season. Things could certainly change if the Sabres make a deep run which means we have to wait until the team announces that he can return.

Noah Ostlund (Upper Body)

Ostlund has been out since March 25 after taking a hit from Boston’s Andrew Peeke and is being further evaluated. He was initially considered day-to-day but has not returned as of yet. As of April 11 was nearing a return and is dealing more with a pain management thing, according to reports.

On April 16, Ruff noted that Ostlund playing in the first round series is a possibility.

Boston Bruins Injuries

None to report.

Final Thoughts

Buffalo Sabres playoff hockey is back. Just let that sink in. The 2006-2007 Sabres, who won the President’s Trophy, were my introduction to Buffalo sports and fandom. Being there for the Party in the Plaza and all the excitement of that playoff run was really special. I’m really hoping the Sabres make this an exciting, deep run, as this is way overdue. I’ll admit that I’ve checked out since they were so bad for so long, but I’m ready to watch playoff hockey and get back on board.

I’d like to thank Chad DeDominicis for allowing me to guest post on his site, and I will continue to do so as the Sabres hope to make a deep playoff run.

Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images