BUFFALO – The good news for the Sabres is captain Rasmus Dahlin, their top defenseman, shouldn’t be sidelined for long after leaving Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche with back spasms.
“I think that should be short-term, but you never know,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said prior to Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets in KeyBank Center.
Dahlin, who averages a team-high 24 minutes, 42 seconds of ice time per game, missed Thursday’s game. Defenseman Dennis Gilbert moved into the lineup.
Ruff, whose Sabres on Tuesday blew a four-goal lead and lost for the second time in franchise history, also dressed rookie center Tyson Kozak for his NHL debut and scratched struggling winger Jack Quinn, who has scored just one goal this season. Kozak pivoted Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
With Dahlin out, the Sabres recalled defense prospect Ryan Johnson from the Rochester Americans for insurance.
In Dahlin’s absence, defensemen Bowen Byram and Owen Power are expected to take on a larger role. Power moved up to the top power-play unit.
“We’re going to need a little bit more from other guys,” Ruff said.
Fresh off their embarrassing defeat, Ruff canceled Wednesday’s practice and just held meetings. Ruff said the Sabres stayed off the ice for two reasons.
“There’s three games in less than five days,” he said. “We broke down sometimes in these tough segments where we don’t have enough energy for that last game, or maybe we’re practicing too much. So it was an opportunity to do both.
“(We could) clean the mind, move on, review some of our system stuff that got away from us,” he said. “And at the same time, make sure that we’re ready to play today, that we have the most amount of energy for a game that’s really important.”
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Ruff and Jets coach Scott Arniel played together on the Sabres in the late 1980s before Ruff hired his close friend as an assistant coach during his first stint in Buffalo.
Arniel, who previously coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, moved around as an assistant before the Jets promoted him during the offseason to replace Rick Bowness.
“He has paid his dues,” Ruff said. “He has coached in a lot of different places with a lot of good coaches. Even last year when he stepped in a few times when Rick was out, I thought he did a great job.”
Winnipeg started the season a stunning 15-1-0. They began Thursday on a four-game losing streak.
“I think his demeanor and how he’s grown with communicating with players is probably the reason he’s done such a good job this year,” Ruff said. “And I know they’re in a little bit of a struggle, but tough times, you got to get out of tough times together. He’s up for that challenge.”
Arniel, of course, is happy to see Ruff back in Buffalo.
“I’m sorry he’ll have to give us the two points tonight, but I’m glad he’s getting back in the saddle here,” he joked.
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Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is scheduled to talk to the media Friday morning.