The Buffalo Sabres have put themselves in prime position to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011, but some cracks started to appear before the NHL's break for the 2026 Winter Olympics and they can't be ignored.
Buffalo lost three of its final four games before the break as key injuries mounted. Center Josh Norris was among those sidelined, and his extensive injury history creates a situation where the organization simply can't pin its offensive hopes on him staying healthy.
Enter Robert Thomas. The St.