Carrier dumped the puck into the offensive zone and blew by defenseman Ben Lovejoy to retrieve it on the forecheck. He then wrapped around the net and passed to Zemgus Girgensons to create a scoring chance from the slot.
Clearly, his coaches took notice. On his very next shift, Carrier skated on the top line alongside Sam Reinhart and Kyle Okposo, where he spent the majority of the remainder of the game. He skated there again at practice on Monday at HarborCenter.
"I just think he works extremely hard and makes those good plays, plays the game the right way," Okposo said. "He's a young kid, that's what you need. He's got some confidence out there and he's doing the right things. I think his play probably warrants a move up in the lineup."
It wasn't Carrier's first play of that nature in the game. He'd already shown a propensity to be strong on the puck, using his body to maintain possession on multiple entries while beating defenders along the boards. One such play led to the high-sticking call against Jacob Josefson that earned the Sabres their only power play of the game. Having the confidence to make such plays with the puck, he said, is a key to his game.
Whether Carrier sticks on the top line remains to be seen, and might even depend on the availability of Ryan O'Reilly, whose eventual return from injury could result in a return to the wing for Reinhart. But the fact that Carrier remained in Buffalo when three other players were reassigned to play for Rochester on Sunday is a sign of where he stands with the team after four games.
"Will has played extremely, extremely well, been really effective," Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. "Speed, he's been really physical, and he has gotten in the mix on offensive chances … Whether he plays on a line with Sam and Kyle or he's playing on the fourth line or playing on the third line, which he did for two of the games, he needs to continue to play that way."
The only thing Carrier hasn't done to this point is score, but that's not for a lack of chances. He missed a good chance in the crease at home against New Jersey on Friday but has shown a willingness and an ability to make his presence felt at the net-front. On Saturday, his support on the breakout led to a 2-on-1 opportunity between him and Zemgus Girgensons.
"Just keep playing the way I'm playing," Carrier said when asked about what he'd like to bring going forward. "Bring some speed, go outside D's, bring the puck to the net, stuff like that. Hopefully get my first goal sometime soon."
Carrier and the Sabres return to action on the road against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. Coverage begins with the TOPS Pregame Show on MSG-B, or you can listen live on WGR 550. The puck drops at 8 p.m.
