BUFFALO – Seven Sabres, including center Jack Eichel and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, sat out today’s practice with “minor ailments” and will miss Friday’s preseason finale, coach Phil Housley said.
Housley said the players are all day-to-day. Center Johan Larsson, winger Conor Sheary and defensemen Zach Bogosian, Brandon Hickey and Marco Scandella also missed the session inside HarborCenter.
The Sabres finish a stretch of three games in four nights Friday against the New York Islanders in Oshawa, Ontario.
“We got a lot of games this week, so we’re erring on the side of caution,” Housley said.
Housley said Wednesday that Sheary, out since suffering an upper-body injury the first day of training camp, could practice today.
In other injury news, defenseman Matt Hunwick, who’s week-to-week with a neck injury, is “making strides,” Housley said. Hunwick’s equipment is hanging in his locker. He hasn’t practiced yet this camp.
The Sabres also sent five players to the Rochester Americans earlier today: defensemen Will Borgen and Taylor Fedun; forwards Rasmus Asplund and Victor Olofsson; goalie Scott Wedgewood. The camp roster is now at 32.
Fedun and Wedgewood must clear waivers.