Connor Clifton News

Clifton delivered an illegal check to the head of Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils in the Sabres' 5-4 loss on Friday night. He received a match penalty on the play and has subsequently been suspended for two games. Hischier was forced to leave the game for the Devils and has already been ruled out for their next contest on Sunday. In eight games this season, Clifton has one point (0G / 1A) and has racked up 28 penalty minutes along with a -6 plus/minus rating.

Clifton spent the first five seasons of his NHL career in Boston, tallying 43 points (10G / 33A) across 232 games. The 2023 season was his best to-date, posting 23 points (3G / 18A) with 120 blocked shots and 208 hits in 78 games. He brings a hard-nosed style to the Sabres' blueline and should fit well on their second pairing, potentially as a partner to up-and-comer Owen Power.

Clifton has been a healthy scratch since Game 2 but will draw back into the Bruins' lineup for Matt Grzelyck for Game 6. The 28-year-old has yet to pickup a playoff point this year but has four SOG, and a -1 plus/minus through two games so far.

Clifton failed to pick up a point through the first two playoff games but had four SOG, and a -1 plus/minus and will be a healthy scratch Friday vs. Florida as he is replaced by Matt Grzelyk in the Bruins' lineup. The 27-year-old had five goals, 18 assists, 93 SOG, 60 PIMs and a +20 plus/minus through 78 regular season games.

Clifton was a healthy scratch for the Bruins' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Saturday as they take on Minnesota. The 27-year-old has five goals, 17 points, and is a +18 through 64 games this season.

Clifton has five goals, 12 assists, 81 SOG, 48 PIMs and a +18 plus/minus through 64 games played this season but will be a healthy scratch Thursday. He will be replaced by Brandon Carlo in the Bruins' lineup.

The Bruins have eight NHL defensemen so they are expected to rotate them with some regularity. Clifton will be replaced by Josh Brown, who will be making his Bruins debut.

Clifton had a tough night in Philadelphia, posting a minus-2 rating in 18:39 TOI. Clifton will be replaced by John Moore on the Bruins' third pair.

Clifton was a healthy scratch for Game 1 but will replace Jeremy Lauzon (undisclosed) for Game 2. Clifton had seven points (1G / 6A), 108 hits and 52 blocked shots in 44 regular-season games in 2021.

Clifton has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Steven Kampfer in the lineup on Tuesday. Clifton has picked one goal and six assists (seven points) in 38 games this season.

Clifton has been a regular in the Bruins lineup as of late but will sit with Kevan Miller returning from a five-game absence on Friday.

Clifton replaced Matt Grzelcyk in the lineup on Friday but will come out to allow John Moore to make his season debut on Saturday. So far this season, Clifton has been held pointless in seven games.

Clifton has been a healthy scratch for the first four games of the season but will replace Matt Grzelcyk (leg) in the lineup on Saturday. The 25-year-old defenseman had just two goals in 31 games a season ago.

Clifton has been out since December 29th but he will play Tuesday in Philadelphia with Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo both out with upper-body injuries. Clifton skated with Matt Grzelcyk in Monday's practice and comes into Tuesday's game with just two goals in 30 games.

Clifton skated in two games with Providence this weekend but returns to the Bruins where he has just two goals in 30 games this season.

Clifton suffered an upper-body injury early in Sunday's game vs. the Sabres and will not play against the Devils tomorrow. With Clifton and Charlie McAvoy definitely out and Torey Krug not expected to travel, look for the recently recalled Jeremy Lauzon to play with Matt Grzelcyk.