BUFFALO – By Saturday, the Sabres could have all of their injured players back in the lineup.
Center Dylan Cozens, winger Jeff Skinner and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, all of whom are day to day with upper-body injuries, will miss tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres close their six-game home stand Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Coach Don Granato said Cozens suffered his injury in the third period of Monday afternoon’s 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Granato said Skinner, out the last three games, had a strong rehab skate this morning and will return to practice Friday.
Samuelsson hasn’t played since entering concussion protocol in last Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
“Each day real positive direction, so he is progressing very well,” Granato said.
With Cozens out tonight, winger Victor Olofsson will play after sitting out five straight games.
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start, his fourth straight nod.
The Sabres skated this morning after a snowstorm forced their scheduled game against Chicago on Wednesday to be moved to tonight.
Update: The Sabres have recalled Jacob Bryson from the Rochester Americans, most likely to serve as their seventh defenseman.