Concern grows after Lindy Ruff receives serious injury update
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Alex Lyon and Lindy Ruff just gave the Sabres a playoff scare they did not need a week before the postseason.
Buffalo has already clinched its first playoff berth in 15 seasons, so the focus should be on sharpening the game and locking in matchups.
Instead, the talk shifts straight to the crease.
Ruff said Lyon is dealing with a strained lower-body muscle after getting hurt during Wednesday's pregame skate ahead of Buffalo's 5-3 win over the Rangers.
The initial timeline is 1 week, but Ruff also admitted there is a chance Lyon could miss the start of the playoffs.
That is the part that changes everything.
Lyon is not some extra goalie Buffalo can quietly park on the shelf. In his first season with the Sabres, the 33-year-old has gone 20-10-4 while sharing the crease with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Lindy Ruff receives a concerning alert regarding a serious injury
The Sabres are still chasing the Atlantic Division title, which makes the timing even worse. This is not happening to a team just coasting into Game 82.
It also forces Colten Ellis into a bigger spot right away. He was set to face Columbus on Thursday night, and now his role matters a lot more than a simple late-season start.
Ellis has a 7-4-1 record, and his last start came on Feb. 3 when he made 31 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss at Tampa Bay.
That is decent support on paper, but playoff prep is a different animal. Lyon's absence would put more weight on Luukkonen while also asking Ellis to be ready for anything.
And that is the real Sabres angle here. This is not only about whether Lyon misses a few practices.
It is about whether Buffalo enters its biggest games in 15 years with one of its two main goaltenders less than full go, or not available at all.
Ruff's wording did leave a little room for hope. A 1-week timeline means Lyon is not automatically ruled out for the opening round.
Still, this is the kind of injury update that changes the tone around a contender in a hurry. The Sabres finally got back to the playoffs. Now they have to make sure a bad moment in a morning skate does not follow them straight into the first weekend.
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| POLL | ||
AVRIL 9|39 ANSWERS Concern grows after Lindy Ruff receives serious injury update If Alex Lyon misses the start of the playoffs, is that a major blow for Buffalo ? | ||
| Yes | 24 | 61.5 % |
| No | 15 | 38.5 % |
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