The Sabres’ injury picture keeps shifting, and the update on Alex Lyon is the latest reminder that Buffalo still doesn’t have its goaltending situation settled. Lyon, who is in a contract year and headed toward unrestricted free agency again next summer, has been slowed by a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, and now there’s been a setback in his recovery, according to Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald.
The original target was for Lyon to make his season debut on Tuesday, but that plan is off the table. There is no timetable for his return at this point. Lindy Ruff said Lyon is still making progress, so the news isn’t all negative, but if he doesn’t get back over the next handful of games, he’ll end up missing at least a month because of the preseason injury.
Buffalo is also waiting on captain Rasmus Dahlin, who will miss his third straight game tonight with an upper-body injury, per team reporter Justin Alpert. Dahlin was off to a strong start before getting hurt, posting four points in six games while logging just under 24 minutes a night.
That average is a little misleading because he left his sixth game early. In the meantime, Dennis Gilbert should get another chance, and he’s made a strong case for himself with two points in two games.
There was more encouraging news elsewhere on the roster. Joshua Norris was a full participant in practice Friday after leaving Thursday’s game early and entering concussion protocol, Hoppe reported.
Norris has been quiet so far this season, with one goal and one assist in eight games, and he has slid a bit down the depth chart. Even so, the expectation is that he’ll play tonight, which is a welcome development for a Buffalo forward group already dealing with plenty of bumps and bruises.
Jiri Kulich is also back in the mix. Ruff told reporters, including Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News, that Kulich rejoined the team and will play tonight against Montreal after missing Thursday’s game with an illness.
Because Kulich had a blood clot last season, Buffalo sent him back for a full assessment, but he was cleared to return. He has one goal and one assist in six games this season.
And there may be one more boost coming soon. Harrington noted that Jason Zucker is close to making his season debut after undergoing sports hernia surgery in August.
The veteran winger could be available for Buffalo’s next home game Wednesday against Philadelphia. Zucker is coming off a productive season in which he scored 24 goals and added 21 assists in 62 games, giving him his eighth career 20-goal campaign.
In Other News...
Sabres Watched A Leafs Coaching Blunder Fuel Another Rival Collapse
The Maple Leafs latest stumble against Buffalo came with an unusual subplot, as rookie Gavin McKenna saw his ice time shrink in a game Toronto still had a chance to close out. Toronto had a two-goal lead heading into the third period before the Sabres pushed it to overtime and finished the comeback, leaving the Leafs to answer for how they handled the final stretch.
Jim Hiller said penalties played a role in McKennas limited minutes, but he also took responsibility for the way the bench was managed as the game tightened. For a young player trying to find his footing in a high-pressure division matchup, the night became less about what he could do and more about when Toronto decided to trust him again. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Zucker's Return Could Force A Sabres Lineup Squeeze
Jason Zucker is getting close to rejoining the Buffalo lineup after missing the start of the season because of offseason surgery, and his return is already creating a tricky conversation for the Sabres' forward group. The team has had enough moving parts up front that one established scorer coming back does not simply add offense, it forces a look at who has earned a spot, which lines have clicked, and how much continuity Lindy Ruff is willing to disturb.
The Sabres have also been getting useful work from several forwards in Zucker's absence, which only sharpens the question of how to fit him back in without upsetting the rhythm that has developed. Buffalo has options, but not many easy ones, and once Zucker is ready, the roster math becomes as important as the production on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Win Came With A Josh Norris Worry Fans Feared
The Sabres got the kind of result they needed against Toronto, but the win came with a familiar kind of concern attached to it. Joshua Norris left the game after a collision, and Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff later confirmed that he has entered concussion protocol, an unwelcome development for a player whose health has already been a recurring storyline.
Buffalo will be waiting for more clarity, because Norris was not the only important name whose night ended early. John Tavares also suffered an injury in the game and did not return, leaving the Maple Leafs without a status update from head coach Jim Hiller. For the Sabres, the immediate takeaway was two points, but the longer-term interest is how Norris responds once the leagues protocol runs its course. [Read more 🡒]