Expected Lines:
Sabres
Skinner – Reinhart – Olofsson
Asplund – Mittelstadt – Thompson
Bjork – Cozens – Ruotsalainen
Rieder – Eakin – Sheahan
Bryson – Ristolainen
Dahlin – Jokiharju
Samuelsson* – Miller
Tokarski
*expected to make NHL debut.
Penguins
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
McCann – Carter – Zucker
Aston-Reese – Blueger – Rodrigues
Zohorna – Jankowski – Sceviour
Dumoulin – Letang
Pettersson – Marino
Matheson – Ceci
DeSmith
Mattias Samuelsson NHL Debut
The Sabres announced this morning they’ve recalled 2018 2nd round pick (#32) Mattias Samuelsson from Rochester.
Samuelsson is set to make his NHL debut after posting 4 points in the last 5 games in the AHL. Prevalent for his physical defensive game coming out of the draft, Samuelsson has been a pleasant surprise this season, unlocking an offense side to his game that wasn’t always prevalent.
He has 11 points (3G, 8A) in 19 games with Rochester this season.
Youth Movement
Casey Mittelstadt seven goals and nine points in the last 10 games.
Tage Thompson has 6 goals in the last 10 games.
Per Jourdan Labarber, the median age of the Sabres defense corps this afternoon is 23.
Age 21: Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju
Age 23: Jacob Bryson
Age 26: Rasmus Ristolainen
Age 28: Colin Miller
Strong Start Necessary
Despite almost pulling off the comeback, the Sabres were faced with an uphill battle following a rough first period against the Penguins on Saturday.
After the first, the shot attempts were 23-8 in favor of Pittsburgh. Dustin Tokarski will need more support early on, especially playing back-to-back games.
Lineup Notes
- Dustin Tokarski will start in goal; Granato says he didn’t want to throw Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen in just yet.
- The Sabres have sent CJ Smith from the taxi squad to Rochester.
- Riley Sheahan returns to the lineup and is in for Steven Fogarty.
- Drake Caggiula is out of quarantine and could be in the lineup on Tuesday.
