Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin exited a victory against the Florida Panthers on October 12, 2026, due to an upper-body injury after taking himself for the back following a shot attempt early in the second period, Expressen reported.
Early Lead Undone by Sudden Back Strain
The game at the rink began on a high note for the Swedish defenseman when he opened the scoring for Buffalo in the first period. Capitalizing on a power play after Florida’s Dmitrij Kulikov took a holding penalty, Dahlin fired a shot past fellow countryman Jacob Markström at 15:55 to give the Sabres a 2–1 advantage. Buffalo had taken the lead through Josh Doan already after 5.58, but Florida equalized when Anton Lundell made it 1–1 at eleven minutes played, with Aaron Ekblad and Sandis Vilmanis notated for the assist. Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn picked up the assists on the play, which marked Dahlin’s second goal of the NHL season following an earlier tally against Chicago on October 4. The team had lost their two preceding matches with 0–4 against Dallas Stars and 1–4 against Utah Mammoth, and Florida simultaneously came to the match without injured key players such as Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand.
However, the momentum shifted abruptly at the start of the second period. After taking a shot that was blocked and setting off a Florida counterattack, Dahlin immediately clutched his lower back. He labored to the bench for a line change before retreating down the tunnel to the dressing room. Buffalo Sabres later announced via X that their captain would not return to the ice.
Experts Question Unnatural Shooting Posture
Speaking on Viaplay, former NHL star Peter Forsberg analyzed the sequence that led to the exit.
Fellow Viaplay expert Erik Granqvist shared the broadcast’s dismay over the sudden development. It is so sad with Rasmus,
Granqvist remarked while observing the team’s reaction from the bench.
Ruff Outlines Immediate Travel and Recovery Plans
Following the final horn, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff provided an initial update regarding the severity of the issue and the team’s immediate travel schedule. According to beat reporter Pat Malacaro on X, Ruff confirmed that Dahlin will not accompany the squad on their upcoming trip to Montreal. Instead, the organization will evaluate and manage the injury on a day-to-day basis.
Dahlin entered the contest having recorded three points through the first five games of the 2026–27 campaign, looking to build upon a stellar previous season where he tallied 74 points and finished as a finalist for the Norris Trophy.
Markström Exits Early in Double Swedish Injury Blow
Florida goaltender Jacob Markström also failed to return for the second period after stopping 9 of 11 shots during the opening frame. SVT Nyheter reported that Markström’s early departure sparked immediate worry for the Panthers, given his crucial role in the franchise’s Stanley Cup ambitions.
Despite losing their captain early in the middle frame, the Sabres managed to close out a 5–3 win over Florida, bolstered by contributions from fellow Swede Noah Östlund. While Buffalo secured the two points to break out of a recent offensive slump, the primary concern for the coaching staff remains the day-to-day status of their star defenseman as the team prepares to travel north without him.
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