Buffalo Sabres receive schedule boost after Game 5 loss to Boston Bruins

The Buffalo Sabres' top forwards looked gassed late in the third period and into overtime on Tuesday night. An early-game injury to Noah Ostlund, who skated less than three minutes before departing, led to extra ice time for the rest of the team's top-nine forward group in Game 5.

Tage Thompson and Peyton Krebs both played nearly 25 minutes. Alex Tuch wasn't far behind at just under 24 minutes. Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker also topped 20 minutes.

It was also a hard-fought, physically draining contest as the Bruins dished out 43 hits before David Pastrnak scored an OT winner to cut the Sabres' series lead to 3-2.

Here's the good news for Buffalo: There's an extra day off before Game 6 takes place at TD Garden in Boston on Friday night.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed he'll give the players Wednesday off to recharge before getting back on the ice.

"Tough game tonight," Ruff told reporters. "We'll take a day off. We'll get a good practice in on [Thursday] and get ready to play a game on [Friday]. And we've been a good road team."

Buffalo won the series' first two games in Boston by a combined score of 9-2, but the B's were the NHL's second-best home team during the regular season with a 29-11-1 record. So, the Blue and Gold better be ready for another low-scoring, hard-hitting battle in Game 6.

For now, let's dive into the latest edition of our Sabres playoff player grades series as the young roster finds out how difficult it is to eliminate an opponent from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Buffalo Sabres offense goes dormant as Boston Bruins keep season alive with Game 5 win

Sabres player grades

Buffalo Player of the Game: Alex Lyon

Where would the Sabres be without The Lyon King? Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looked shaky in his first two career playoff starts, so Ruff turned to the 33-year-old journeyman netminder, who's proceeded to stop 81 of the 85 shots (.953 save percentage) sent his way since taking over late in Game 2.

Lyon gave Buffalo ample time to find the series-clinching goal on Tuesday night, making 27 saves on Boston's first 28 shots before Pastrnak scored on a breakaway to end it. You can't ask for much more from a goalie who faced 15 high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.

The veteran goaltender, who's been a vocal locker-room leader for the Sabres all season, delivered another message after the disappointing Game 5 defeat.

"It's part of the playoffs," Lyon said about trying to close out an opponent. "It's one of the hardest things in the world, so we have to embrace that, and we have to be on a mission when we go into Boston."

Lyon has firmly grasped the starting role and will be back between the pipes on Friday night.

Sabres quick hits

• Ruff didn't have a definitive Ostlund injury update after the game, but he conceded "it doesn't look good."

• Josh Norris was available for Game 5 after suffering an injury early in the series, but the coaching staff opted not to mess with the lines after a blowout win in Game 4. He'll likely rejoin the lineup to replace Ostlund.

• The Sabres' power-play drought finally ended at 39 after Rasmus Dahlin scored with the man advantage less than four minutes into the game. They didn't score again in the contest as Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman kept the high-powered group at bay for the next 65 minutes.

• Boston held a 24-16 blocked shots advantage over Buffalo.

• The Ryan McLeod, Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn line, which caught fire coming out of the Olympic break in February, has gone silent for the Sabres. It wouldn't be a surprise if Ruff shakes up his middle six as Norris draws back into the lineup.

• Buffalo still has a 78% chance to advance, according to HockeyStats.com.

• The Sabres' second chance to end the series comes Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET) with Game 6 in Boston.

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