Robin Lehner will make his 27th start. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres goalie Robin Lehner to start against Jets

BUFFALO – After sitting out two straight games, Sabre goalie Robin Lehner will make his 27th start of the season this afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets.

Backup Anders Nilsson played the last two contests.

The Sabres will make one other lineup change, inserting defenseman Justin Falk, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago, for Taylor Fedun, coach Dan Bylsma said.

Update: Defenseman Josh Gorges, who’s been battling a hip problem, is out, so Fedun is in.

“I liked the match-up for Taylor playing the Blackhawks in that game,” Bylsma said this morning inside KeyBank Center. “We weren’t very good in the first period. We thought they played their best hockey in a while there in that first period.

“Clearly, you can see the first goal in (Ryan) Hartman going by Taylor there. Really, more I like the match-up of Justin in this lineup against this big, heavy team.”

Bylsma said rookie winger William Carrier is still sick and will miss his second straight contest.

Meanwhile, Jets rookie sensation Patrik Laine, the second overall pick June 24 in Buffalo, will play his first NHL game here. Laine, who possesses a wicked shot, has 21 goals and 36 points in his first 41 games.

“The wow factor is more than the shot,” Bylsma said. “I think you see the shot and you see his sniping ability. You’ve seen the one-timer from the top of the circle. You’ve seen coming down the wing with the shot. I think the wow factor now is a little bit more of his skating, playmaking ability, his ability to shake a guy and move laterally and get open.”

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