Rousek failed to pick up a point through five games and had only one SOG and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:13 TOI and has been reassigned to Rochester (AHL) Friday. The 24-year-old right-winger returns to the Americans, where he had two goals, four assists, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in eight games prior to his promotion.
Rousek will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Zach Benson (lower-body) to return to the lineup for the first time since October 29th. Rousek made his season debut after Benson was initially injured and will likely not be a regular in the lineup now that Benson is healthy. He recorded zero points, one shot on goal, and a -2 plus/minus in five games.
Rookie Zach Benson has not played since October 29th but will be a welcome addition to a Sabres lineup that will be without Tage Thompson (upper-body) for the foreseeable future. Through six games this season, Benson has two points (0G / 2A), averaging 13:17 time-on-ice, and will likely see increased offensive deployment as the Sabres search for additional scoring depth.
Tuch has not played the last two games for the Sabres but will be available to return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Before his injury, Tuch had been producing at an impressive rate, recording nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
With Ville Husso (personal) not travelling with the Red Wings to their Global Series event, James Reimer will take the crease Thursday as Detroit takes on Ottawa. The 35-year-old veteran netminder will be leaned on heavily by the Red Wings if Husso is out for long, and has a 2-2-1 record, .933 SV%, 1.80 GAA and 1 shutout this season. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who have won two of their last three games and are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.85) and seventh in shots per game (33.0).
Sabres head coach Don Granato said after Tuesday's game against the Bruins that Thompson would likely miss "significant time" due to the upper-body injury. Thompson originally left the game in the first period due to a lower-body injury before returning. He then exited the game again shortly thereafter when a Charlie McAvoy shot struck him in the left wrist. Thompson's absence will leave a major void in the Sabres' attack, even despite his relatively slow start. Thompson has six goals and six assists in 15 games on the season. We should expect to receive a more definitive timeline on his recovery in the coming days.
With Henri Jokiharju (illness) unavailable to play, Johnson will draw back into the Sabres' lineup on Tuesday. The 22-year-old rookie has registered no goals and one assist across his first four games. He is expected to play alongside Erik Johnson on Buffalo's third pair.
Jokiharju was a late scratch from Tuesday's game, with Sabres head coach Don Granato only hinting that "someone" was feeling under the weather when talking to the media earlier in the day. Jokiharju is off to a relatively productive start to his 2023-24 season, registering two goals and five assists across the first 15 games. Ryan Johnson will draw into the lineup in place of Jokiharju.
Since Levi returned earlier this month from an injury, the Sabres have opted to rotate starts between him and Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen and will likely continue this trend with Levi taking the crease on Tuesday. Levi is sporting a very pedestrian 3.17 GAA and .896 SV% through six games (3-3-0) but has won both starts since returning to the lineup, saving 57 of 63 shots (.905 SV%). The Bruins lead the Eastern Conference with an 11-1-2 record but rank in the bottom half of the league offensively, averaging 3.21 goals per game.
Since Levi returned earlier this month from an injury, the Sabres have opted to rotate starts between him and Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen and will likely continue this trend with Levi taking the crease on Tuesday. Levi is sporting a very pedestrian 3.17 GAA and .896 SV% through six games (3-3-0) but has won both starts since returning to the lineup, saving 57 of 63 shots (.905 SV%). The Bruins lead the Eastern Conference with an 11-1-2 record but rank in the bottom half of the league offensively, averaging 3.21 goals per game.
Tuch has managed soreness and an undisclosed injury for the last few weeks but has not missed any game action. Tuch, who was a game-time decision on Friday, hadn't been affected by his injury, resisting nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
Levi is the starter for the Sabres on Friday after serving as the backup to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the team's 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Levi last played on November 4th, saving 25 of 29 shots in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His rookie season has not gone as smoothly as anticipated, posting a .341 GAA and .885 SV% through five games (2-3-0). The Sabres are -118 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team coming off a 4-1 loss last night at the hands of the New York Rangers.
Levi is the likely starter for the Sabres on Friday after serving as the backup to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the team's 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Levi last played on November 4th, saving 25 of 29 shots in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His rookie season has not gone as smoothly as anticipated, posting a .341 GAA and .885 SV% through five games (2-3-0). The Sabres are -118 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team coming off a 4-1 loss last night at the hands of the New York Rangers.
Tuch has managed soreness and an undisclosed injury for the last few weeks but has not missed any game action. Tuch, whose status is uncertain for Friday, hasn't been affected by his injury, resisting nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
Aube-Kubel is expected to make his season debut on Friday with news that Anthony Mantha (upper-body) is being placed on the injured reserve. In 11 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season, Aube-Kubel has three points (1G / 2A). He has primarily been an NHL-level player over the past several seasons, with 222 games and 62 points (25G / 37A) to his name. He was paired with Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn at morning skate on Friday.
Cozens has not played since November 3rd, when he suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Philadelphia Flyer Garnet Hathaway. Prior to his injury, Cozens was in the midst of a dry spell, being held pointless in three consecutive games. He is expected to return to a top-six role and top-powerplay designation.
