Chad Johnson has never played more than 27 NHL games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres confident in goalie Chad Johnson

BUFFALO – Considering Chad Johnson is the only healthy goalie on the roster, it can be assumed the backup will start this afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.

“Let’s go with that,” Bylsma said sarcastically Friday.

Goaltending was arguably the Sabres’ biggest question mark before new starter Robin Lehner suffered a lower-body injury about halfway through the season opener Thursday.

Now, the Sabres might be forced to lean heavily on Johnson, 29, a career backup with only 57 NHL appearances (48 starts).

“It is exciting,” Johnson said. “Obviously … sort of a goal of mine is to be a starting goaltender.”

Bylsma said Lehner was evaluated Friday and the Sabres will learn more about his status after he is examined today. Bylsma said following the game the Swede’s injury wasn’t short-term.

As the Sabres practiced Friday inside the First Niagara Center, Lehner, who was wearing a walking boot on his right foot after the game, watched from the bench.

An injury in his first game as the No. 1 goalie hit the emotional Lehner hard.

“He was apologetic,” Bylsma said. “He was upset because he’s injured right now. Last night he just said he was sorry. He can’t be sorry for getting injured.”

Bylsma said the Sabres would recall a goalie from the Rochester Americans following their season opener Friday. Nathan Lieuwen, whose concussion history forced him to sit out most of last season, played his first regular-season game since Dec. 19. The AHL club also has Andrey Makarov.

The two youngsters only have eight combined games of NHL experience.

So what will the Sabres do if Lehner’s out for weeks or even longer? They could look outside the organization.

The Calgary Flames are carrying three goalies – Jonas Hiller, Joni Ortio and Karri Ramo – to start the season.

Johnson, an acquisition from the New York Islanders last season, hasn’t started consistently since 2012-13 with the AHL Portland Pirates. He played a career-high 27 games with the Boston Bruins in 2013-14. He was scheduled to play regularly for the Sabres in March before an ankle injury ended his season.

When Johnson saw Lehner was injured, he thought, “Oh boy, here we go, right?”

“It’s unfortunate,” he said. “It’s a weird situation, especially first game of the year.”

Johnson stopped eight of the nine shots he faced in relief in the Sabres’ 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

“I think we saw in last night’s game is what we saw in the exhibition games as well,” Bylsma said. “He’s got a calm, quiet demeanor in net. The saves he made for us are the saves he made in preseason. … The picture of him pushing to the weak side and being read solid and square in net and making a glove save is what we’ve seen to this point.”

Sabres defenseman Mike Weber added: “(Johnson is) extremely positive, and in the same sense he’s pretty focused in and knows what he has to do to compete and win games. He’s pretty steady in there.”

With no backup recalled, goalie prospect Linus Ullmark practiced Friday. The Swede, an injured, non-roster player, underwent surgery on both hips during the offseason.

Ullmark will be reevaluated in three to five days and could be cleared to return, Bylsma said. Still, it’s highly unlikely Ullmark, a North American newcomer, would start playing in the NHL.

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Bylsma on the feeling on the bench late Thursday after rookie Jack Eichel scored and an offside called nullified an Evander Kane goal: “We felt … whether it counted or not we were going to win the game, and that’s what I think is a positive. … I wish you could have been on the bench for that mindset and attitude of the team in the third period, because we believed we were going to win.”

Notes: Captain Brian Gionta (lower body) skated on his own Friday and is still day-to-day, Bylsma said. … The Sabres are still carrying two extra defensemen. “As we get closer to healthy, we probably won’t have eight for too long,” Bylsma said. Matt Donovan and Jake McCabe were scratched Thursday. … Johnson said goalie coach Andrew Allen, 39, was getting dressed to back him up after Lehner was hurt. Allen, a former professional goalie, never played in the NHL.

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