Sabres Announce Sam Carrick News After 15 Games Missed
Lindy Ruff says Sam Carrick is available for Game 3 Sunday night in Montreal.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 9, 2026
The Buffalo Sabres entered their second-round series after beating the Boston Bruins in six games while navigating four injuries carried from the regular season.
Those absences also affected the Sabres' lines during the first two games against the Montreal Canadiens, with forward Sam Carrick considered "a possibility" to appear in Game 1 but ultimately missing back-to-back outings.
Although Carrick went from expected to miss the entire second round to considered day-to-day right before Game 1, he still has to make his postseason debut.
The veteran center last played on Mar. 31 after sustaining an upper-body injury in a fight with Islanders captain Anders Lee.
On Saturday morning, however, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Carrick is finally available to play for the Sabres in the playoffs, starting with Game 3 on Sunday.
The announcement marks a notable turnaround from the early projections for Carrick's return, initially expected to last for around six to eight weeks.
With Carrick out, the Sabres have relied on Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch to carry the biggest load on offense this postseason, both leading Buffalo with seven points apiece.
Meanwhile, Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram are tied for the most goals scored by a Sabres player, both having four through eight postseason outings.
Lindy Ruff says Sam Carrick is available for Game 3 Sunday night in Montreal.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 9, 2026
Carrick contributed five goals and one assist in 13 games since being acquired from the New York Rangers ahead of the trade deadline. Through 73 combined games between New York and Buffalo, Carrick has scored nine goals and assisted on seven more for 16 total points.
The Sabres dropped Game 2 after beating the Canadiens in Game 1, with the series shifting to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. Buffalo will host Game 5 on Thursday.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 1:28 PM.