BUFFALO – Injuries will likely keep Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Michael Kesselring from playing in Thursday’s season opener.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Luukkonen and Kesselring, both of whom left Wednesday’s 5-3 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, are “kind of week to week.”
“It’s going to be more than day to day,” Ruff said following today’s pregame skate in KeyBank Center.
Ruff said Luukkonen is dealing with a different lower-body injury than the one that sidelined him for the first week of training camp. Meanwhile, Kesselring aggravated an undisclosed injury he has been battling throughout camp.
With their No. 1 goalie out, the Sabres will likely turn to veteran Alex Lyon, who will be starting tonight’s preseason finale in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. The Sabres also have goalie Alexandar Georgiev on the roster.
In other news, Ruff said rookie defenseman Radim Mrtka will miss tonight’s game because he’s sick. The Sabres will be recalling defenseman Zachary Metsa from the Rochester Americans to replace him.
The Sabres want to rest captain Rasmus Dahlin, their extra defenseman.
Metsa, who registered 46 points in 69 games for the Amerks last season, earned a two-way NHL contract this year after beginning his career on an AHL deal.
“His puck play is real good,” Ruff said. “In defending, he’s earned an opportunity.”
The Sabres will be facing a Penguins lineup that features stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
Tonight’s roster with the lines and defensemen is below.
Forwards
– Jack Quinn, Josh Norris and Tage Thompson
– Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich and Alex Tuch
– Jason Zucker, Ryan McLeod and Josh Doan
– Beck Malenstyn, Justin Danforth and Tyson Kozak
Defensemen
– Metsa, Jacob Bryson, Bowen Byram, Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov and Conor Timmins are scheduled to dress.