After an ugly 0-3 start for the Buffalo Sabres, they have bounced back to win their last two games impressively. They would be outscored 10-2 in the first three games but have beaten the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers by a combined score of 11-4.
It has certainly been a rollercoaster to begin the season, but when looking at the first five games, these are five players who have stood out for the Buffalo Sabres.
Josh Doan
Among the forwards, Josh Doan's performance through all five games has probably been the most consistent. Even when the Sabres weren't scoring, it was clear to anyone watching that the team was better when Doan was on the ice.
However, over the last two games, he has been getting into the box score and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) during that stretch. After the game against the Panthers, Dahlin had this to say about Doan:
Dahlin on Doan: "He's so impressive, his stick is so good, especially in the neutral zone...he's so good with the puck around his feet, he can pass, he's unbelievable." #Sabres
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) October 18, 2025
The Sabres were largely criticized when they traded JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for not getting enough in return. The start by Josh Doan might end up making this a good deal for Buffalo if he continues to play this well, especially once Michael Kesselring is able to return.
Alex Lyon
Another player who has consistently delivered through the first five games of the season has been Alex Lyon. When he was signed as a free agent this summer, he was expected to be the backup to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
However, UPL has been dealing with an injury that has opened the door for Lyon, and he has played well enough that he should remain the starter as long as he performs at this level.
Through five games, Lyon has a goals against average of 2.44, which on the surface isn't exceptional and is 24th among goaltenders.
That one stat, though, doesn't tell the whole story, as he has faced 168 shots this season, which is 20 more than any other goaltender in the league. He has a save percentage of .929, which is the fourth best in the league among goalies with four or more games played.
He has done a great job, especially early in games when the Sabres struggle to get going. The ability to keep the game within reach has been a huge boost for this team and one of the reasons he has been one of their best players this season.
Jason Zucker
It is hard to imagine any fans expected Jason Zucker to be leading the Buffalo Sabres in goals after five games, but that is exactly what has happened. He had the team's first goal of the regular season, in the 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, and followed it up with two big power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators.
Similar to Doan, there is no question that the Sabres are a better team when he is on the ice, and that was evident going back to the season-opener against the New York Rangers. The Sabres' top line came out flat, but midway through the game, Lindy Ruff moved Zucker up to play with Josh Norris and Tage Thompson.
It felt almost like a light switch as that line competed more and was fighting for the puck, due in large part to what Zucker brought to the offense. He is a player who might not be mentioned in the same breath as Tage Thompson or Alex Tuch, but he is a key piece to this team that can help this team win.
Conor Timmins
The Buffalo Sabres traded for defenseman Conor Timmins during the NHL Draft, and he looks like he is on his way to having a career season with the team. Through five games, he has averaged 20:29 of ice time per game, which is around a four-minute increase over his career average.
One of the areas in which he has been a big contributor is on the penalty kill, which the Sabres have been excellent in and lead the league in PK% at 95.7%. Through five games, Timmins leads Buffalo in minutes in 4-on-5 situations with 26, according to MoneyPuck.
The Sabres' defense was expected to be better this season, but the player who was supposed to be the catalyst behind that improvement was Michael Kesselring. However, Timmins has stepped up in his place and been a big contributor to their success.
Zach Benson
The last player has only played two games this season, but it is undeniable that the impact Zach Benson had when he returned. Benson missed the first three games due to an injury, and right before he was set to return suffered another injury in practice after being hit in the face with a puck.
He returned for the game against the Senators and immediately changed this offense for the better with four assists. Benson followed it up with another assist in the game against the Florida Panthers.
Entering this season, the Buffalo Sabres had high expectations for Benson based on some of the moves they made in the offseason. It was clear that he was going to be among the Top 6, and the team was hoping he could surpass his career-high of 30 points.
If the first two games are any indication, he should do that and more for a Sabres' offense that needs playmakers.