Zucker was signed to a one-year, $5,300,000 million contract in the offseason but missed the last seven games due to a lower-body injury but is expected to make his Coyotes' debut Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 31-year-old left-winger has two goals, 14 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in five games so far prior to his injury.
Tuch has been nursing an injury for the last couple of weeks but taking advantage of maintenance days has prevented him from missing any game action, yet he is still considered day-to-day. His status for Friday's game against the Minnesota Wild is yet to be determined but if he cannot go Mathew Savoie is expected to make his NHL debut. Tuch has been producing at an impressive rate lately, recording nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.
Reimer has served as the backup to Ville Husso in the Red Wings' last two games but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. In four starts this season (2-2-0), Reimer has only one sub-.900 SV% outing and has been reliable between the pipes, registering a 1.52 GAA and .944 SV% along with one shutout. The Red Wings have followed up an early-season five-game winning streak by losing five of their last seven (2-4-1) but look poised for a strong performance against a Canadiens team amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but will be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.
Rousek will play his second game of the season after recording a -2 plus/minus, one shot, and one hit through 13:57 time-on-ice in his debut on November 3rd. The Czech winger is expected to skate on the third line alongside Peyton Krebs and Victor Olofsson.
Bryson will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday as the Sabres make room for Lukas Rousek to return to the lineup. Bryson has been held pointless through three games this season, recording six blocked shots and two hits in the process.
Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but appears to be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.
Samuelsson played just 2:28 TOI before leaving Friday's game vs. the Flyers with a lower-body injury. If he's unavailable for Saturday's game in Toronto, look for Jacob Bryson to re-enter the Sabres' lineup.
Luukkonen will be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.
Bryson will sit in the press box as a healthy scratch on Friday to make room for Connor Clifton, who will return to the Sabres lineup after serving a two-game suspension. During those two games, Bryson registered a -1 plus/minus, four blocks, and two hits while averaging 10:56 time-on-ice.
Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, which is where he will likely suit up when he returns to the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.
Tuch will play on Friday after not participating in practice on Thursday. In 10 games, Tuch has seven points (1G / 6A) while averaging 18:06 time-on-ice, over a full minute less than his average ice time during the 2022-23 season.
With Zach Benson (lower-body) being placed on the injured reserve and Tyson Jost being a healthy scratch on Friday, Rousek is expected to make his season debut. In eight games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) this season, Rousek has six points (2G / 4A).
Benson has missed five of the last seven games with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve, retroactive to October 29th. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.
