The Buffalo Sabres got a crushing injury update on goaltender Alex Lyon on Wednesday. Head coach Lindy Ruff announced the fate befalling the 33-year-old. As Ruff noted during Wednesday’s press availability, the Sabres will be placing Lyon on injured reserve. According to Ruff, the Sabres will be without Lyon for “a bit of time.” While the cryptic comments don’t really signal a timeline for Lyon’s return, such comments typically indicate it could be a week-to-week issue.
Alex Lyon Injury Update per Coach Ruff
Per coach Lindy Ruff, Alex Lyon is returning to Buffalo to be evaluated for a lower-body injury and will miss “a bit of time.”
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The injury update comes at the worst possible time. The Sabres are riding high on a nine-game winning streak. Their latest win, a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night, brought Buffalo one step closer to tying the club’s longest winning streak. The streak has coincided with the major front office shakeup, breathing new life into the club.
But it was late in the game against the Blues that Lyon apparently sustained the injury. Lyon played through it, finishing the game. Ruff added the following insights into the injury:
“We’ll let our doctors take a look. We know it’s going to be a bit of time.”
Lyon has appeared in 21 games this season, winning 10. He has registered one shutout, while posting a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Sabres turning to Colten Ellis as Backup
Meanwhile, the Sabres will be turning to Colten Ellis to backup starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Ellis had been playing well for the club. However, Ellis has been out since leaving the Sabres’ December 9 game against the Oilers.
Ellis entered concussion protocol, landing him on IR. Nevertheless, Ellis is clear to play. So, the Sabres activated Ellis ahead of their New Year’s Eve tilt against the Dallas Stars. The move comes just in time as the Sabres will need Ellis to be ready moving forward.
The 25-year-old has been good for the Sabres this season. Since joining the club as a waiver claim, he’s appeared in eight games, posting a 3.25 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. Ellis and Lyon had formed a solid tandem will Luukkonen missed time this season. But with Lyon out for the foreseeable future, the Sabres’ goalie carousel will continue to turn. The Sabres enter Wednesday night’s action one point out of a playoff spot.
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