Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced forwards Jiri Kulich and Jason Zucker are both doubtful for Tuesday's game against Utah Mammoth.
Kulich and Zucker join an ever-growing Sabres injury list that also currently includes Zach Benson, Josh Norris, Tyson Kozak and Justin Danforth.
Buffalo has yet to field its best lineup this season because of injuries. It started with incumbent starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen arriving to training camp banged up, and it hasn't stopped with a new ailment popping up almost daily.
It's put a lot of pressure on depth players like Josh Dunne, who's excelled in a niche role but isn't the type of player who's likely to succeed if force to move higher in the lineup.
The situation raises questions about how much more Buffalo can overcome before the lack of healthy impact players causes a drop off in the team's performance
As injury problems refuse to fade away, the Buffalo Sabres need more from superstars Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin
Ruff said Zucker is dealing with an illness, which suggests his absence shouldn't be too extensive, but he provided a more vague status report on Kulich.
"It's a health thing. ... Like when little kids get fluid in their ears," Ruff told reporters.
Both players missed practice Monday, and it led to some unsightly line combinations for Buffalo:
- Jordan Greenway — Tage Thompson — Jack Quinn
- Josh Doan — Ryan McLeod — Alex Tuch
- Jacob Bryson — Peyton Krebs — Isak Rosen
- Mason Geertsen — Josh Dunne — Beck Malenstyn
Bryson, a defenseman, is obviously a placeholder while the Sabres decide how to handle the roster crunch created by the high number of forward injuries. Calling Noah Ostlund back up from the AHL's Rochester Americans is the most likely option.
Nevertheless, that's far from an ideal group of lines, especially in the bottom six, which has been a source of strength throughout the early stages of the campaign. Greenway on the top line is also a massive problem.
So, what does that mean for the Blue and Gold?
Quite simply, it's time for the team's cornerstones to star playing like All-Stars. Thompson and Dahlin have not been driving play anywhere near their usual rate, which makes it somewhat surprising the Sabres still own a 5-4-3 record.
Buffalo can't expect the same type of production from the bottom six as it's currently constructed, however, so that means the burden falls on Thompson and Tuch to lead the forward group. Dahlin leads a healthier batch of defensemen, who must take the reins for the time being.
Ultimately, the Sabres have the makings of a dangerous club if they can eventually get all of their best players on the ice at the same time.
Each passing injury makes it more unlikely that's going to happen, though.