The Sabres get another preseason look at two of their offseason defense additions tonight, and both Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier should be easy to spot.
Zellweger has spent the opening days of camp paired with Owen Power, sliding into the opening left by Bowen Byram’s departure. The fit makes sense on paper and has already shown up on the ice, with Zellweger bringing the same kind of speed and offensive push that Byram provided.
Still, he’s not being handed anything. He’ll have to win the job over the course of camp.
Crevier is also in line for his first game action with Buffalo after missing time because of offseason shoulder surgery. The 6-foot-8 defender has been a full participant early in camp and has skated alongside Conor Timmins.
Up front, Jiri Kulich is the lone Sabres skater from Monday’s game who will suit up again Tuesday, a direct result of the new collective bargaining agreement’s preseason limit for veterans with 100 or more career NHL games. Kulich isn’t affected by that rule, since he has 75 career NHL games at age 22.
Buffalo is taking full advantage of that loophole in the calendar, especially after Kulich missed most of last season because of a blood clot. He logged 19:39 of ice time Monday, led Sabres forwards, and finished with six shot attempts.
Lindy Ruff said he’ll "in all likelihood" dress Kulich for all four exhibitions.
Another group worth watching is the forward line of Zach Benson, Noah Ostlund and Jack Quinn. That trio was Buffalo’s best in Saturday’s Blue and Gold Scrimmage, with Ostlund and Quinn scoring and Benson bringing his usual edge and energy. If the Sabres keep that combination together, tonight will be the next test against outside competition - and possibly a look at something that carries into the regular season.
Columbus is countering with a game-night roster that blends NHL players and minor-league depth. The Blue Jackets’ group includes Miles Wood, Dmitri Voronkov, Carson Soucy and goalie Cam Talbot.
In Other News...
Sabres Opener Brought Real Promise And One Early Concern
The Sabres preseason opener against Columbus offered plenty of reasons for optimism, even if the scoreboard will matter less in September than the habits behind it. Buffalo rolled to a 5-1 win, with Noah Ostlund scoring twice, Owen Power logging more than 25 minutes and finishing with three points, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looking sharp by turning aside all 13 shots he faced through the first two periods.
For a team trying to set a tone early, the bigger takeaway may have been the way the night unfolded physically. Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both had to leave early, and Jiri Kulich was shaken up before coming back to finish, leaving Buffalo with at least one concern to sort through after a night that otherwise read like a strong opening statement. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Suddenly Face A Blue-Line Problem They Couldn't Afford
Buffalos blue line took a hit during the game when Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both left with injuries and did not return for the third period. Samuelsson came out after blocking a shot and briefly came back for one shift before his night was done, while Zellweger was forced out after taking a hit and needed assistance getting to the locker room.
For a team already working with limited depth on defense, losing two regulars in the same game quickly changes the look of the lineup. The Sabres had to get through the final period short-handed on the back end, and the bigger concern now is whether either player will be available if this carries beyond one night and forces another adjustment. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have Found A Blue Line Piece Nobody Saw Coming
Louis Creviers first appearance in a Sabres sweater offered a quick look at why Buffalo thought he was worth adding to the blue line mix. The defenseman, acquired from Chicago, stepped into preseason action and talked afterward about the work it took to settle his nerves early in his career, crediting the Blackhawks mental coach for helping him handle the pressure that comes with trying to stick in the NHL. He described himself as a defense-first player, but one with some offensive upside, which is exactly the sort of blend teams like to find in camp.
Lindy Ruff seemed to notice the same thing. The Sabres coach praised Creviers abilities and pointed to the role he has been carving out during training camp as Buffalo keeps sorting through its defensive options. For a player who did not arrive with much fanfare, every practice rep and preseason shift matters, and Crevier has at least given the coaching staff a reason to keep watching closely as the roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]