Three teams, three defense-and-depth tests, and three injury updates that could matter fast.
In New Jersey, Jonas Siegenthaler left yesterday’s loss to the Utah Mammoth after taking an undisclosed injury, and the Devils won’t have a full read on it until he’s evaluated in the coming days. Head coach Sheldon Keefe told the media yesterday, including team reporter Amanda Stein, that the Devils “won’t know” the full extent of Siegenthaler’s injury until he can be fully evaluated “in the coming days.”
New Jersey Hockey Now’s Daniel Amoia reported that as Siegenthaler came off the ice, he appeared to be “in a lot of pain,” though he was able to get up under his own power. The injury appeared to happen after a collision in the corner with Mammoth forward Logan Cooley.
If Siegenthaler has to miss time, that’s not a small loss for New Jersey. He may not bring the flash of Luke Hughes or Dougie Hamilton, but he’s been a steady defensive presence since the Devils got him in a 2021 trade with the Washington Capitals.
Last season, he played all 82 games and averaged 19:28 of ice time per night, with nearly two minutes a game on the penalty kill. The Devils also don’t have a healthy No. 7 on the active roster right now, so any absence would almost certainly force a recall from the AHL’s Utica Comets.
The names in play include top prospect Anton Silayev, 25-year-old Vladislav Kolyachonok, Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards, and Topias Vilen.
Buffalo is also watching a nagging issue, this one with Josh Doan. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said yesterday that Doan is dealing with a lower-body injury, according to Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic.
Doan’s ice time was cut back in the third period of yesterday’s overtime win over the Minnesota Wild, and Ruff linked some of the winger’s early struggles to that lingering problem. Even so, Ruff said he believes Doan can get back on track.
Doan, 24, has been part of the group that helped push Buffalo to its first playoff run in over a decade last season, and he was one of the biggest breakout stories on the roster. The former Arizona Coyotes prospect scored a career-high 25 goals and 52 points in the regular season, then added 10 points in 13 playoff games as the Sabres came within a single goal of the Eastern Conference Final.
Washington, meanwhile, will be without Matt Roy tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Roy is dealing with a lower-body injury, via Monumental Sports’ Tarik El-Bashir, and that the absence is day-to-day rather than something considered highly disruptive. Even so, Roy’s loss matters because he fills important minutes for Washington, especially on the penalty kill.
Dylan McIlrath will step into Roy’s spot and make his 2026-27 debut tonight against the Penguins.
In Other News...
Sabres Have An Early Josh Doan Concern Ruff Just Amplified
Josh Doans start with the Sabres has been quieter than anyone around the team expected after his strong previous season and recent contract extension. Through Buffalos first three games, the winger has yet to record a point, and head coach Lindy Ruff said there may be a physical reason behind it, pointing to a minor lower-body issue that could be affecting Doans rhythm early on.
The concern is not just about production, but about how much Doan can offer if he is not quite himself while trying to settle into a new stretch of the season. Beck Malenstyn, another Sabres player who signed an extension, is also off the scoresheet, but he has still found ways to contribute with his work on hits and the penalty kill, which only sharpens the question of what Buffalo is getting out of Doan right now as the calendar is still young. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Turn Thursday Night Into An Oktoberfest Experience For Fans
The Sabres are turning Thursday nights meeting with the Dallas Stars into a full Oktoberfest-style celebration at KeyBank Center, with the Oct. 8 game set for 7 p.m. Fans walking in should find a fall-flavored atmosphere built around themed concession specials, seasonal entertainment and a slate of keepsake items that fit the nights beer-hall feel. The team is also leaning into the occasion with a photo backdrop, commemorative beer steins and matchup pucks, plus autographed memorabilia available for fans who want something a little more personal.
Buffalo has packed the evening with enough extras to make it more than just another early-season home date, and the setup gives the building a different kind of energy before the puck even drops. Between the themed in-game elements and the promise of a few surprise touches throughout the night, the Sabres are clearly aiming to make the matchup feel like an event as much as a game, which is exactly the sort of added wrinkle that can give a home crowd a reason to stay engaged deep into the evening. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Krebs Is Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Sabres Role
Peyton Krebs keeps finding new ways to matter for the Sabres, and his latest shift came in an unusual spot when he skated as a first-line winger in a recent game. He even had a hand in the game-tying goal, then finished the night as part of a Buffalo win, another sign that his value goes beyond the bottom six role he has often occupied. Coach Lindy Ruff has called Krebs versatile and capable of handling multiple jobs, and that kind of flexibility has made him easy to move around the lineup.
For Krebs, the rise has been about more than one hot game. He has spent time investing in his training and development to keep pushing his NHL career forward, and the Sabres have rewarded that growth with a bigger opportunity. With a new contract in hand and a stronger showing last season, he now looks like a player who is not just filling in where needed but forcing Buffalo to think harder about where he belongs. [Read more 🡒]