The Buffalo Sabres are back for their first game since the 2019 NHL Global Series and there will be some changes to the roster from last weekend.
Defenseman Marco Scandella is ready to return from a lower-body injury, however, forward Marcus Johansson is slated to miss tonight’s game and this weekend’s back-to-back set due to an upper-body injury.
Scandella will skate on a pair with Henri Jokiharju tonight when Buffalo faces the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the GMC Game Night pregame show getting underway at 6:30 on MSG.
The Sabres currently have eight healthy defensemen on the roster with Zach Bogosian also nearing a return, so coach Ralph Krueger is facing some tough decisions when it comes to his nightly lineup.
“We like the internal competition. We think it creates a healthy atmosphere because the professionalism of the guys who have had to take that difficult role of watching has been excellent,” Krueger said. “They’re keeping themselves ready to play and still supporting the group. We haven’t seen anything but support.”
Buffalo is about to enter a stretch of five games in eight days.
“So internal competition is a good thing and with the games we have coming up, we’re going to need the depth on defense, I’m quite certain of that,” Krueger said.
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