BUFFALO – Fresh off the most productive summer of his career, a healthy Josh Norris seemed poised to enjoy a breakout season as the Sabres’ new No. 1 center.
The oft-injured Norris, 26, dazzled during four preseason outings, scoring three goals and an NHL-high seven points.
But just one game into the season, he’s hurt again, joining five teammates on the sideline.
What the heck is going on?
“Maybe it’s just a test for us right off the bat to see how strong we can be and to get through this,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Friday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter. “We’ll have to find ways to win differently.”
Ruff said Norris, who left Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers after suffering an upper-body in the third period, was being examined by doctors and the Sabres would know more later Friday.
He will at least miss tonight’s road game against the Boston Bruins.
Ruff said Norris did not re-injure the oblique that limited him to just three games with the Sabres after they acquired him from the Ottawa Senators before the trade deadline. However, the injury, which occurred while he was taking a faceoff, is similar.
While Ruff said he hadn’t talked to Norris, he said, “I know he’s not dealing with it very good.”
“He’s pretty disappointed with where it’s at with this injury,” he said.
At his best, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound Norris gives the Sabres a speedy two-way threat capable of playing in any situation. He set career highs by scoring 35 goals and playing 66 games in 2021-22.
Injuries, most notably shoulder problems that dogged him in Ottawa, limited Norris to just 177 games over the past four seasons.
“He put an incredible amount of work in,” Ruff said. “This is the best summer he’s ever had, and it showed with the way he was skating, the preseason he had. It’s something that’s kind of followed him around.”
Winger Alex Tuch said he sent Norris a text of encouragement following the Sabres’ season-opening loss in KeyBank Center.
“Just told him I was thinking of him,” he said. “It is tough. It sucks, honestly. There’s no sugarcoating it.”
The Sabres at least received some good news Friday.
Ruff said winger Zach Benson would be discharged from the hospital Friday after being admitted Wednesday, hours after a puck cut his face in practice.
He said Benson won’t play in Boston but could resume skating today. He believes he could return Wednesday.
“If it was up to him, he’d be on the plane,” Ruff said. “Just some precautions we have to take.”
After a puck hit Benson in the face, he received treatment and returned to the session.
The latest odd incident left Ruff shaking his head. The Sabres dealt with injuries throughout training camp, losing eight players. Some have already returned.
“There’s a lot of weird stuff going on – stuff that in Benny’s case, I don’t think I’ve ever seen as a coach,” Ruff said.
Meanwhile, Ruff said defenseman Owen Power, who missed Thursday’s game because of illness, is feeling better and would likely accompany the Sabres to Boston and be available to play.
With Norris out, Ruff rearranged his lines, most notably moving Jiri Kulich up to the top trio to pivot wingers Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker.
Kulich enjoyed success late last season centering Benson and Thompson.
“Go back to last year, that line of Kulich, Benson and Thompson were a heck of a line for us,” Ruff said. “We’ll go back to that as soon as we get Benny back.”
The Sabres on Friday also recalled the 6-foot-4, 208-pound center Josh Dunne, who recently cleared waivers, from the Rochester Americans.
Dunne, 26, caught Ruff’s attention during camp.
“He had a good preseason,” Ruff said. “I thought from the top of the circles down, a big body that got to the net, played well for us, physical.”
Dunne joined the Sabres at the airport before they departed for Boston. Center Tyson Kozak practiced on a line Friday, meaning he could move into the lineup.
Tuch said dealing with injuries now will make the Sabres better in the long run.
“Getting guys in that might’ve not been in the starting lineup right away, getting some games in early, I think it’s going to be key,” he said. “It happens throughout the course of the season. We have to have that next-man-up mentality. Everyone’s got to be ready to go.”
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Veteran Alexandar Georgiev, who earlier this week cleared waivers, is one four goalies on Rochester’s season-opening roster.
Devon Levi, Topias Leinonen and Scott Ratzlaff are the Amerks’ other netminders. Levi started Friday’s opener against the Toronto Marlies at Blue Cross Arena. Leinonen backed him up.
Georgiev, 29, hasn’t played in the AHL since an 11-game stint with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2018-19. He signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Sabres last month.
Update: Amerks coach Mike Leone said following Friday’s 4-3 win that Georgiev will join the AHL affiliate Monday.