When talk turns from on-ice performance to potentially trading one of the team’s core players, you know things are going well for the Buffalo Sabers. That said, it’s mid-November, there’s a lot of hockey to be played, and hopefully the Sabers can still find a way out of the mess they’ve created.
If the past two games are any indication, the Sabers have found some momentum. Facing the Edmonton Oilers, who themselves are struggling in the standings, the Sabers showed good energy. They never gave the Oilers any chance heading into the game, dominating 5-1.
Noah Ostlund looks the real deal
What immediately jumped out was the performance of 21-year-old Noah Ostlund. Thrusted into the starting lineup due to a string of injuries, Ostlund has been slow to produce, but has been given more responsibility and ice time in recent games.
He responded pretty well, but Monday night felt like a breakout game for him. He started the scoring with a nifty little move at the goal line, transitioning from backhand to forehand before putting the puck past Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. In the third period, he made it 4-1 with a nasty wrist shot.
Obviously, this is a small sample size. Through 11 games this season, Ostlund has five points, but he has shown potential. Hopefully this season will be more about his development than anything else, but it would be nice to see him showcase the skills that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
Colten Ellis continues to impress
Another key factor in the win over the Oilers was the performance of goalie Colten Ellis. He was impressive in the win over the Detroit Red Wings, but he also stood out in all the right ways against the Oilers. For a goaltender who’s been more trouble than helpful, it’s nice to see him playing so well.
RELATED: Sabers Now Heading to Zero
Ellis was outstanding on Monday night, stopping 32 of Ole’s 33 shots, especially in the third quarter when the back-to-back Western Conference champions missed 16 shots. No one had high expectations when Ellis was called off waivers, but he did a great job.
The Sabers need to find any measure of stability throughout the lineup. Uko-Pekka Lukonen has been a disappointment since returning from injury and no one can expect Alex Lyon to maintain his hot form this season. If Ellis could add another dimension of stability, that would be welcome.
Tage Thompson becomes a leader?
The Sabers have long felt like a ship without a rudder. The leadership is more or less in place, but it’s difficult to determine which players actually “lead” the team. Tachi Thompson has shown over the past few games that he might be ready to be the mentor.
Thompson has been on fire the past five games. He had four goals and seven points during that span, but it was the intangibles that really caught people’s attention. In overtime against the Red Wings, he absolutely bullied Alex DeBrincat and set up Matthias Samuelsson for the game-winning goal. During a game against the Oilers, cameras showed him chirping enthusiastically at star center Leon Draisaitl.
These weren’t earth-shattering moments, but they showed a fire in Thompson that was previously missing. This team needs to be visibly tired of losing, and Thompson has shown that in the past two wins. His toughness and production are starting to converge, which is what the Sabers have been looking for.
some positive momentum
The “one game at a time” mantra may feel a little cliche, but it should work for the Sabers season. It’s hard to find any real momentum given the litany of injuries. Beating the second-best team in the Atlantic Division and a perennial Stanley Cup contender in back-to-back games is a good start.
For now, the focus can only be on the next game. Don’t worry about where they are in the standings or what the schedule looks like. They just have to step up and bring the firepower they’ve shown in the last two games. They don’t need a dozen wins in a row, but stringing together positive streaks and cutting down on negative ones is crucial.
