Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has a handful of games left to determine what lineup to ice in Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series.
Although the Sabres haven't officially clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are a near mathematical certainty to make the NHL postseason field. Their current odds round up to 100% (via HockeyStats.com) and they're on pace for 109 points, well above the projected Eastern Conference cut line.
So, while Ruff and his coaching staff are still focused on trying to hunt down the No. 1 seed in the East and an Atlantic Division title, they're also trying to answer some lingering roster questions.
That includes some additional uncertainty up front following the recent Noah Ostlund injury, which could lead to the return of Jordan Greenway on Tuesday against the New York Islanders.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in line to start second straight game
The Sabres have used a straight rotation between the pipes since NHL play resumed following the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. It appears that trend will come to an end Tuesday night.
Luukkonen occupied the starter's net at Monday's practice, suggesting he'll make his second straight start against the Isles, per Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic. It'll mark the first time a Buffalo goalie has made two consecutive outings since Alex Lyon on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.
Lyon, the club's most consistent goaltender for most of the campaign, has struggled mightily over his last two starts. He stopped just 42 of 52 shots (.808 save percentage) in losses to the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings, and he looked out of sorts in the process.
Meanwhile, UPL is coming off a strong performance in Saturday's triumph over the Seattle Kraken, tallying 32 saves on 34 shots (.941 SV%). The Sabres have posted a 15-3-2 record in his last 20 games, a stretch where he's compiled a .920 SV%.
It's too soon to declare Luukkonen as Buffalo's Game 1 playoff starter, but he's getting the first chance to prove he deserves that distinction.
Michael Kesselring could get last chance to make his case
Kesselring has dealt with a couple different leg injuries, including a lingering ankle issue, dating back to training camp. He's never looked completely healthy, as the ailments have sapped his skating explosiveness, and it's derailed his first season with the Sabres.
The 26-year-old defenseman may get one more opportunity to secure a spot in the club's postseason lineup, though. He skated on a pair with Logan Stanley at Monday's practice (via Heather Engel of NHL.com), which puts him in line to play his first game since March 10 against the Islanders.
Kesselring hasn't played horribly — his 51.95% expected goals for percentage (xGF%) in 5-on-5 situations ranks second behind only Rasmus Dahlin among Buffalo blueliners, according to Natural Stat Trick — but he hasn't provided any offense (two points in 32 games).
The injuries' impact on his skating has prevented him from keeping pace with the team's up-tempo style in transition and on offense. So, the biggest thing to watch as he returns to the lineup is whether the three weeks off helped him get closer to full strength.
His upside is higher than the other contenders for the right side of the third pair (Conor Timmins, Zach Metsa and Luke Schenn) if he's finally healthy.
Noah Ostlund remains sidelined at practice
Ostlund, who's missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, was still sidelined from Monday's practice session. Ruff confirmed he's still listed as day-to-day, per Rachel Lenzi of the Buffalo News.
The Sabres have used Tanner Pearson and Tyson Kozak to fill the void so far. They joined the fourth line, with Zach Benson moving up to the third. Now it appears Greenway, who's battled a middle-body injury all season, is set to play his first game since Jan. 22.
Greenway has been a useful penalty-killing contributor this season, and he may rejoin that special-teams unit against New York, but his skating issues severely limit his 5-on-5 impact. It raises questions about his viability of his playoff involvement.
The Sabres have a lot of fourth-line options, so they may give Ostlund some additional recovery time with the playoffs on the horizon. They'll hope the underrated Calder Trophy candidate is ready to roll once the postseason gets underway, though.