Buffalo Sabres News

Lyon was the expected starting goalie for the Red Wings on Friday, but will be sidelined due to a lower-body injury that is not a long-term concern, according to head coach Derek Lalonde. Cam Talbot will start in Lyon's place on Friday and Ville Husso, freshly recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL), will start on Saturday.

The Sabres will roll with Luukkonen in the crease for a third straight game on Thursday when they visit the New York Rangers. Luukkonen was tremendous in his previous outing, saving 37 of 38 shots (.974 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Luukkonen has taken the reins of the Sabres' crease despite a modest 2.92 GAA and .904 SV% through nine games (4-4-1). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as +175 road underdogs against a Ranger club riding a two-game winning streak.

Samuelsson was a surprise scratch on Tuesday along with Henri Jokiharju, with neither absence being announced prior to warmups. Connor Clifton and Dennis Gilbert will draw into the lineup in their place.

Benson has not played the last five games due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Benson had played six of seven games to start the season for the Sabres before his injury, scoring zero points and recording a -4 plus/minus. In a corresponding move, the Sabres have reassigned Jiri Kulich to the Rochester Americans (AHL).

With Zach Benson (lower body) ready to return from a five-game absence, Kulich has been sent down to the Rochester Americans (AHL). The 20-year-old Kulich scored one point (1G / 0A) in eight games with the Sabres this season.

The Sabres will turn to Luukkonen between the pipes on Tuesday for the sixth time in the last seven games. Luukkonen has lost two straight but was solid in his previous outing, allowing two goals on 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The 25-year-old Luukkonen will look to improve on his 3.16 GAA and .893 SV% through eight games this season (3-4-1). The Sabres enter the action on Tuesday as slight -100 underdogs against the Ottawa Senators, sporting a 6-5-0 record through 11 games this season.

The Sabres will likely turn to Luukkonen between the pipes on Tuesday for the sixth time in the last seven games. Luukkonen has lost two straight but was solid in his previous outing, allowing two goals on 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The 25-year-old Luukkonen will look to improve on his 3.16 GAA and .893 SV% through eight games this season (3-4-1). The Sabres enter the action on Tuesday as slight -100 underdogs against the Ottawa Senators, sporting a 6-5-0 record through 11 games this season.

Benson has not played the last five games due to a lower-body injury but has practiced with the team the last several days and could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Benson had played six of seven games to start the season for the Sabres before his injury, scoring zero points and recording a -4 plus/minus.

Brannstrom has been solid in Vancouver this season, averaging 14:15 time-on-ice from the blue line, tallying a point (0G / 1A) and a +3 plus/minus. That said, he continues to be a part of paper transactions, sending him back and forth from Abbotsford (AHL) due to salary cap implications.

Benson has not played the last three games due to a lower-body injury but is nearing a return after returning to practice on Friday. Benson has played six of seven games to start the season for the Sabres before his injury, scoring zero points and recording a -4 plus/minus.

After evenly alternating goalies for the first two weeks of the season, the Sabres settled into starting Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for the last five games. That said, they will return to Levi between the pipes on Friday in the front end of a back-to-back. The 23-year-old Levi started the season strong in his first two outings before a disastrous performance, allowing six goals on 25 shots (.760 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, keeping him from occupying the net in two weeks. The Sabres enter the action on Friday as -111 home favorites against a New York Islanders club that has scored only 22 goals this season, tied for fewest in the league.

After evenly alternating goalies for the first two weeks of the season, the Sabres settled into starting Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for the last five games. That said, they will likely return to Levi between the pipes on Friday in the front end of a back-to-back. The 23-year-old Levi started the season strong in his first two outings before a disastrous performance, allowing six goals on 25 shots (.760 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, keeping him from occupying the net in two weeks. The Sabres enter the action on Friday as -111 home favorites against a New York Islanders club that has scored only 22 goals this season, tied for fewest in the league.

Brannstrom has been solid in Vancouver this season, averaging 14:15 time-on-ice from the blue line, tallying a point (0G / 1A) and a +3 plus/minus. That said, he continues to be a part of paper transactions, sending him back and forth from Abbotsford (AHL) due to salary cap implications.

Kesselring has been a mainstay on Utah's blueline this season, and will play on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames despite missing practice on Tuesday due to an illness. The 24-year-old Kesselring is off to a hot start, with five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games this season.