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Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch tries to screen St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer as he looks to make a save (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Key Sabres Players Need to Step Up

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Ryan Womeldorf | Last updated Mar 27, 2026 11:15 AM ET

The Buffalo Sabres are feeling frustrated after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, and rightfully so. There could be a positive spin on things – grabbing points in back-to-back losses to the Bruins and Ducks – but this team has been so much more that settling isn’t accepted.

There have been a few problems with the Sabres’ play of late, but there are two noteworthy players who have not been living up to expectations. The Sabres simply need more out of Alex Tuch and Josh Norris if they want to hold onto their Atlantic Division lead and make a run in the playoffs.

Alex Tuch’s Two-Way Play Has Been Lacking

It is hard to criticize Tuch offensively this season. He’s knocking on the door of another 30-goal season and has 59 points in 69 games. He doesn’t go long without registering a point or making some kind of offensive impact on a game.

That said, the normally stout two-way winger has been lacking in the areas of discipline and defense. He took a costly tripping penalty with the Sabres up late against the Anaheim Ducks at the end of a four-game road trip that led to the game-tying power play goal (the Sabres lost in overtime). A lackadaisical turnover at the blue line led to the Bruins’ second goal on Wednesday night.

A voracious penalty killer, Tuch is capable of elite two-way play. He can and has been better, and the Sabres need him to be that guy on a regular basis. The offense helps offset things but errors like that have been costly.

Josh Norris’ Offensive Absence Has Been Noted

Norris is one of the most polarizing players in the lineup. Almost every sentence about him begins with the statement “if he can stay in the lineup.” That has been a problem so far this season as Norris has suited up in just 34 games while dealing with a plethora of injuries.

When he has been in the lineup, the results have been mixed. He has the kind of speed and offensive skills that could make him a strong producer, but he has just two points in his last nine games. He has moved up and down the lineup, seemingly finding a place with Josh Doan and Noah Ostlund.

His underlying numbers are a bit more encouraging, however. The Sabres are earning 62.16% of the goals for when he is on the ice and 54.59% of shots. It may just be a matter of finishing at this point and getting the dam to break.

Both are Vital to the Stretch Run

Tuch remains a vital part of the team and his mistakes are correctable. They have to be, especially when the margin for error narrows to almost nothing in the playoffs. When he is on, Tuch is a borderline elite two-way winger capable of having a major impact at both ends of the ice.

Josh Norris, Buffalo Sabres (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Norris has been particularly frustrating. The Sabres are counting on him being a legitimate scoring option as the second center on this team but he is being outperformed in that regard (and others) by Ryan McLeod. Norris is capable of so much more and needs to find his offensive game again.

When the two are living up to their roles, the Sabres can run four effective lines that are defensively responsible and capable of scoring in bunches. Without them, they lack the balance that has made them a dangerous team.

Sabres Facing Challenges

The Sabres will remain contenders with the way their goaltending has performed. That said, it is unquestionable that they need more from top-of-the-lineup performers like Tuch and Norris or they will not go far in the playoffs.

Both are capable of being exceptional performers. Depth, team defense, and goaltending have buoyed this team so far, but the duo will need to be better in the final 10 games and into the playoffs.