BUFFALO – Since veteran winger Jason Zucker suffered a lower-body injury and left the lineup, the Sabres are 7-0-0 without the services of their oldest and most experienced player entering tonight’s contest against the Boston Bruins.
“They got rid of the dead weight, you know?” Zucker quipped this morning in KeyBank Center after skating with his teammates for the first time since getting injured Dec. 8.
Then Zucker, 33, joked “they might need me to stay out a little longer.”
Kidding aside, whenever he returns – he said he doesn’t have a target date – he should enhance forward corps that has received contribution from all four lines during the seven-game win streak.
“It’s been terrible watching, but it’s been great to see everyone playing well throughout the lineup,” Zucker said. “Everyone from the goaltenders on out are playing really well, and it’s … something that we needed, and now we kind of use that momentum moving forward here after the (Christmas) break.”
Officially, Zucker, who’s on injured reserve, is listed as having an upper- and lower-body injuries.
He appeared to suffer his lower-body injury in the Sabres’ 7-4 road loss to the Calgary Flames when he hit an opponent into the boards in the second period.
Zucker, who doesn’t know if he will accompany the Sabres on their three-game road trip that begins Monday, also missed eight contests in November battling an illness.
He has produced all season, scoring nine goals and 18 points in 21 games. His five power-play goals still lead the team.
“I think he’s done what we thought he would do,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “He’s been great down low on the power play and his veteran leadership that is always evident when he’s inside the room. His voice is always a strong voice.
“I thought after he got back from sickness I thought he really got skating well. So it’ll just be another hurdle to get over, get him over these couple injuries that he had, get him back going.”