<p>It’s still very, very early in the NHL season. But for some teams, the injuries have already started to add up.</p>



<p>It can be difficult trying to move forward without key players, no matter the position. But the best teams are the ones who find ways to overcome them, whether it be through individual players stepping up or systems holding down the fort as a whole.</p>



<p>Today, we’re looking at the former. We’re checking out five players who have elevated their games in the absence of key teammates early on this season. No team has hit the 10-game mark yet, so the sample size isn’t big. But if things go south early, you’re forced to play catch-up – and that’s easier said than done.</p>



<p>Let’s look at five players helping fill the gap while their teams are missing key contributors:</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="140"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alex Lyon, G (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/line-combinations">Buffalo Sabres</a>)</h2>



<p><em>Notable injuries: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Josh Norris, Michael Kesselring, Owen Power (previously), Zach Benson (previously)</em></p>



<p>The Sabres signed Lyon to a two-year deal this summer to help give the team some extra flexibility in net. They then proceeded to sign Alexandar Georgiev and claim Colten Ellis, with Ellis finally making his NHL debut on Wednesday. Buffalo has struggled this season, as expected, but Lyon hasn’t been an issue. You can’t do much when your team scores just one goal in their first three games, but he came up clutch in wins against Ottawa and Florida (32-save shutout). </p>



<p>By all accounts, he has been one of Buffalo’s most impactful players this season while they await the return of Luukkonen. Lyon has proven he can stand out in stretches during his time in Detroit and Florida, and he’s doing it again with a 7.51 goals saved above expected –<a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%221%22&amp;std_gl_season=%2220252026%22"> good for fourth in the NHL.</a> Given his experience, it was probably a good thing GM Kevyn Adams went with Lyon instead of a young, developing <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/buffalo-sabres-devon-levi-goalie-playing-time-ahl-nhl-ukko-pekka-luukkonen">Devon Levi</a> to handle the load, with the Sabres’ lineup getting absolutely decimated early with key players sitting out.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="192"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scott Wedgewood, G (Colorado Avalanche)</h2>



<p><em>Notable injuries: Mackenzie Blackwood, Samuel Girard</em></p>



<p>Wedgewood has been a backup throughout most of his career, but a good one at that. He played some solid hockey in Colorado last year, and now he’s getting the job done while the team waits for Blackwood’s return. Wedgewood hasn’t lost a game in regulation yet and has allowed just one in goal in all five of his victories to date. That’s absolutely massive for a goaltender who took the long road to full-time NHL duty and is now saving Colorado’s bacon.</p>



<p>Blackwood is still “the guy” in Denver, but perhaps Wedgewood will earn more starts as the season progresses. You could say Wedgewood has been a bit overworked early this season, but he can clearly handle it. <a href="https://evolving-hockey.com/stats/goalie_standard/?_inputs_&amp;std_gl_table=%22On-Ice%22&amp;std_gl_team=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_str=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_adj=%22Score%20%26%20Venue%22&amp;std_gl_range=%22Seasons%22&amp;std_gl_span=%22Regular%22&amp;std_gl_group=%22Team%2C%20Season%22&amp;std_gl_age1=%2217%22&amp;std_gl_age2=%2250%22&amp;std_gl_dft_yr=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_status=%22All%22&amp;std_gl_info=%22No%22&amp;std_gl_players=null&amp;std_gl_fa=%221%22&amp;std_gl_season=%2220252026%22">His 5-on-5 GSAx is 3.33,</a> which is good for eighth in the NHL. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anton Lundell, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/line-combinations">Florida Panthers</a>)</h2>



<p><em>Notable injuries: Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk</em></p>



<p>Most fans became aware of just how good Lundell could be during the playoffs last year, when he put up 18 points in 23 games en route to his second Stanley Cup. The Finnish forward also set a new personal best with 45 points in 79 games while playing a third-line center role. With Barkov out, Lundell has held down the fort on the promoted second line alongside Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand, giving the Panthers one of the more sneaky-good trios in the Atlantic Division.</p>



<p>Lundell is tracking for 62 points, something that should remain sustainable with<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/florida-panthers-aleksander-barkov-surgery-right-knee-injury-could-miss-2025-26-season"> Barkov out for 7-9 months</a>. Adding Tkachuk back into the fray shouldn’t hurt, either. Lundell has been centering the top power-play unit while seeing time on the second penalty kill, adding to his vesatility. There’s a good chance this will end up being the most productive season of his career once everything is said and done. Don’t expect him to pop off for 75 or 80 points, but his ability to be such a dominant two-way presence will continue to prove fruitful.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="186"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shane Pinto, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/ottawa-senators/line-combinations">Ottawa Senators</a>)</h2>



<p><em>Notable injury: Brady Tkachuk</em></p>



<p>Fantasy hockey owners have absolutely loved Pinto’s season. He’s up to seven goals in seven games with eight points total, putting him on pace for 94 points. That feels like a stretch, given his previous best was 37 points a year ago. But he clearly knows how to score, and he’s playing with some incredible confidence right now. All seven of his goals have come at 5-on-5, too – wait until he figures out how to score on the power play. The Sens will be without Tkachuk for an extended period of time, but that hasn’t slowed down Pinto. He has thrived on a line with Claude Giroux and Michael Amadio, with Pinto being the driving force early on. </p>



<p>Ottawa still has work to do to push themselves up the standings – they sit deep in the Atlantic Division. But Pinto is starting to live up to the hype he received after his college career ended. The 24-year-old is set to be an <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/shane-pinto">RFA this summer</a>, and his explosive start could amp up the price a bit. Ottawa is on an upward trajectory, so they’re not going to want to mess up anything in the negotiations. Pinto makes the Senators a better team – simple as that.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="212"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Morgan Barron, C (<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/winnipeg-jets/line-combinations">Winnipeg Jets</a>)</h2>



<p><em>Notable injuries: Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti</em></p>



<p>Winnipeg’s forward depth has been tested early due to injuries to Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti, as well as the offseason departure of <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-need-more-nikolaj-ehlers-andrei-svechnikov-nhl">Nikolaj Ehlers</a>. But Barron – who’d never had more than 21 points in a season with Winnipeg – is playing like a man on a mission. He’s playing bottom-six minutes, but he started the season with five points in his first four games. He followed it up with two quieter performances on the scoresheet, but his versatility has still been on display. Barron is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound forward – scoring isn’t the No. 1 priority there.</p>



<p>But his ability to get into scoring lanes to disrupt plays while laying the boom has made him an intriguing player. His ice time has improved from 10:23 a night a year ago to just over 12 minutes this season, partly due to injuries higher up in the lineup. Nobody will mistake Barron for a playdriver, but when your fourth-line center is finding ways to contribute offensively, you’re not complaining.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="175"></div>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recent posts from Steven Ellis</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/2026-nhl-draft-ryan-lin-scouting-report-profile-whl-vancouver-giants-prospect/">2026 NHL Draft’s Ryan Lin might be small, but his impact isn’t</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-20-nhl-affiliated-prospects-to-watch-in-the-chl-in-2025-26">Top 20 NHL-affiliated prospects to watch in the CHL in 2025-26</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/injury-plagued-players-looking-to-bounce-back-top-10-2025-26-barzal-dach-seguin-doughty">Top 10 NHL players looking to bounce back from injuries in 2025-26</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-nhl-draft-rankings-preseason-top-40-mckenna-verhoeff-lin-bjorck">2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Preseason top 40</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/top-20-nhl-affiliated-prospects-to-watch-in-the-ncaa-in-2025-26-martone-hagens-hutson-eiserman-hage">Top 20 NHL-affiliated prospects to watch in the NCAA in 2025-26</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/predicting-chl-roster-2025-prospects-challenge-usa-hockey-belchetz-lin-roobreck">Predicting the CHL’s roster for 2025 Prospects Challenge against the USNTDP</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/spencer-knight-chicago-blackhawks-vezina-nhl-florida-panthers">Blackhawks’ Spencer Knight was once a top NHL prospect – now, he’s living up to expectations</a></li>
</ul>



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