BUFFALO – In the next week or so, two of the Sabres’ top forwards, Josh Norris and Jason Zucker, should be ready to play, meaning some difficult roster decisions will likely materialize.
After center Noah Ostlund’s slick two-goal performance in Monday’s 5-1 shellacking of the Edmonton Oilers, it’s hard to imagine the Sabres will create room by sending the rookie back to the Rochester Americans.
Ostlund, 21, dazzled in his 11th NHL game this season and 19th overall, scoring a nifty power-play goal late in the first period to ignite the Sabres before sealing the contest in the third period.
The Swede knows he’s making a strong case to stay in Buffalo when Norris and Zucker, both of whom participated in Monday’s pregame skate, return to the lineup.
“I try to,” Ostlund said following the Sabres’ second straight win. “It’s not my job to make the team, but I try to do as good as I can every day.”
Ostlund’s exploits before a crowd of 16,394 fans in KeyBank Center highlighted the Sabres’ most complete effort this season.
Against a high-octane team featuring superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they limited scoring chances. When the Oilers occasionally broke free, rookie goalie Colten Ellis stood tall, making 33 saves in his second consecutive start and third in the last four games.
“I thought both sides of the puck, probably our best game,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Where, even leading in the third period, we had a lot of really good decisions with the puck and stayed away from any type of high-danger opportunities.”
A rash of injuries up front has created unique opportunities for Ostlund and rookie winger Isak Rosen over the past few weeks.
When an NHL team summons youngsters from the minors, they often play bit parts. But with four of their top-six forwards sidelined, Ostlund and Rosen have been thrust into larger roles and played on the power play.
Ruff watched their comfort grow throughout the Sabres’ recent four-game road trip.
On Monday, Rosen, 22, created Ostlund’s power-play goal by moving around the right circle and feeding him at the net.
“They’ve been cast in a real big role, and they’ve given us as much as they could,” Ruff said.” “And I thought tonight, the power-play goal by Ostlund, those two guys working together down low.
“But I think you’ve seen through the road trip a couple really good games, and another good game tonight. So they’re making steps toward being a regular NHL player.”
To try to balance his lines against the Oilers, Ruff moved Ostlund between Josh Dunne and Beck Malenstyn. The trio responded by scoring two even-strength goals.
Ostlund created his second goal by grabbing the puck off the faceoff.
After defenseman Bowen Byram broke the 1-1 tie 8:41 into the second period, Malenstyn followed at 9:43, redirecting captain Rasmus Dahlin’s shot from the point in the left circle.
Malenstyn, who hadn’t scored since Dec. 31, 2024, feigned pulling a monkey off his back as he skated to the bench.
“May have been bigger than a monkey,” Malenstyn joked. “I’m not sure what was hanging out back there, but it definitely feels good to have it off.”
Ruff was thrilled to see Malenstyn rewarded with a goal.
“I am happy,” he said. “The job he’s done penalty killing, how hard he works every night, you want to see those guys get on the board.”
With the Sabres up comfortably late, Malenstyn’s willingness to block a shot grabbed Ruff’s attention.
“You don’t have to block a shot there, but the willingness to say to his goaltender, ‘You’ve had a great night, I’m gonna help you out here,’” Ruff said. “He went down, blocked the shot. Noah’s play off the faceoff to score the goal, and that was I think Malenstyn standing right in front of the net on that play.
“It was a night we needed everybody, I think we had everybody and I think everybody contributed into a good win for us.”
Ellis, 25, was the Sabres’ backbone, looking calm and in control throughout just his fifth NHL game.
“I think that he was able to sense a little bit of danger at times, and whether he broke the puck our or whether he just held it for a whistle, there was times where he knew what we needed,” he said.
Sabres center Tage Thompson added a late empty-net goal.
