BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges’ season could be over.
Gorges will decide his future in the next day or two, Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. The veteran is “getting the final information” on the lower-body injury that has sidelined him three games, Nolan said. But the team is planning on playing without Gorges.
“We’ll see next little bit here,” Nolan said this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center.
In other news, the Sabres will make one lineup change tonight against the New York Rangers, inserting veteran defenseman Tyson Strachan for 19-year-old Nikita Zadorov.
“We found he’s getting a little bit overwhelmed lately,” Nolan said.
Nolan believes prospects must watch and learn to develop properly.
“You just can’t keep putting them, putting them in,” he said.
Meanwhile, goalie Michal Neuvirth will make his fourth straight start tonight. The Sabres want to find out if Neuvirth, who has stopped 98 of the last 103 shots he has faced, can be a No. 1.
“He’s only played (22) games,” Nolan said. “No. 1s usually play a lot of games, so he’s relatively fresh. He should be able to handle that load.”
New backup goalie Anders Lindback might have to wait a bit to make his Sabres debut.
“We’ll just ride the horse as long as he’s galloping down the road,” Nolan said. “We’ll … tie him up here for a game and put the other one in. Right now, we’re going to ride him.”
Rangers goalie Mackenzie Skapski will make his NHL debut.