The Buffalo Sabres entered this game without a number of their key forwards including Zach Benson, Jason Zucker, and Jiri Kulich. It wasn't going to be an easy task against a Utah Mammoth team that has been one of the better teams in the Western Conference.
Fortunately for the Sabres, they had Alex Lyon in net who delivered an incredible performance that helped get them to overtime and secure at least one point. This is now the seventh straight game the Sabres have been able to earn a point, and they are now 5-2-2 at home.
These are some of the takeaways from the Buffalo Sabres' overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night.
Alex Lyon gave the Buffalo Sabres one of his best performances when they needed it most
The Sabres' depth was undoubtedly tested in this game, and they were going to need players to step up if they hoped to have a chance to be competitive. One of those players who did that, almost singlehandedly, was Alex Lyon.
Lyon finished the game stopping 32 of 34 shots he faced and allowing only those two goals. However, his Expected Goals Against was 3.95, according to Natural Stat Trick, highlighting just how good he was in net against Utah.
Sabres' younger players taking advantage of their opportunities
The absence of key players has created opportunities for some of the Sabres' younger players and they have taken advantage. In the game against the Mammoth, the Sabres' only goal in regulation was by Noah Ostlund, who was recalled from the AHL today, and it would be his first career NHL goal.
According to the Buffalo Sabres' PR, this is now the first time since the 1992 season that the team has had three players score their first goals in an eight-day period. Ostlund joined Isak Rosen and Josh Dunne in scoring his first career NHL goal.
Josh Dunne (Oct. 28 vs. Columbus), Isak Rosen (Nov. 1 vs. Washington) and Noah Ostlund (tonight) have each recorded their first NHL goal in the last eight days. It marks the first time three Sabres have done so in eight or fewer days since Richard Smehlik (Oct. 10, 1992 at…
— Buffalo Sabres PR (@SabresPR) November 5, 2025
Sabres need to figure out a different line for Tage Thompson
There is no question that injuries are limiting the options for the Buffalo Sabres on what they can do with the top line. Kulich, Benson, and even Josh Norris were all expected to be candidates to play with Tage Thompson, and all are currently out.
In the past two games, the Sabres have gone with Jordan Greenway and Jack Quinn on the wing and Thompson in the middle. However, this line hasn't worked and the Sabres need to find something in hopes of getting their best forward going.
It won't necessarily be a long-term solution and may only be needed for the game against the St. Louis Blues if Benson is able to return later this week. However, to get a spark, it might make sense to go with the younger players in Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund, just to give Thompson some
Points are great but the Sabres have to find a way to convert these overtimes into two points
For the fifth straight game, the Buffalo Sabres had an extra period of hockey and, for the fifth straight game were unable to score in the overtime period. Their only win was against Washington on Saturday after they were able to push it to a shootout.
There is no question that the Sabres being able to at least get it to overtime, especially coming from behind to tie it in the third, shows growth. However, as the season goes along, they need to start converting some of these overtime games into wins to secure two points if they hope to get back to the playoffs.