BUFFALO – On Wednesday night, hours after the Sabres reclaimed him on waivers, goalie James Reimer told his wife, April, he’s looking forward to wearing some matching gear again.
After the Anaheim Ducks claimed him from Buffalo on Oct. 7, Reimer wore the black and red pads he planned on using when the Sabres sported their third jerseys. The red clashed with the Ducks’ orange color scheme.
Instead of a painted mask, he wore a plain white one. He put a shell over his blue Sabres pants that matched Anaheim’s uniform.
As Reimer prepared Thursday morning to back up goalie Devon Levi against the St. Louis Blues, his blue and gold equipment and painted Sabres mask looked sharp.
“It’s the small things in life,” the affable Reimer said of his matching equipment in KeyBank Center.
That life has recently been a whirlwind. After participating in training camp and accompanying the Sabres on their season-opening trip to Germany and Czechia, they waived him. The Ducks, who needed a veteran goalie because John Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy, claimed him.
Reimer’s time out west felt like it would be short. Sure enough, with Gibson recovered, the Ducks waived Reimer on Tuesday.
The Sabres, who played without top center Tage Thompson (lower body) in their 4-3 overtime win against the Blues, sorely needed another goalie. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is nursing a minor injury and missed Thursday’s game. Rochester Americans goalie Felix Sandstrom, the only netminder outside of Buffalo with an NHL contract, is injured.
Reimer, who has played for eight teams over his 15-year career, knew he could be expendable when Gibson returned.
“You go into there with a mindset that you’re going to play well and try to solidify a long-term position, but you always know it could be a short-term situation,” said Reimer, who played two games for the Ducks. “I’ve been in the league a long time, and you understand how the game works. Mindset stays the same. You go in there and try to play your best and, so, same mindset here.”
Reimer’s arrival, of course, gives the Sabres three goalies. They’ve often carried an extra one over the past two years. While it’s hardly ideal, players have tried to make it work.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said if Luukkonen isn’t ready for Saturday’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he should be able to play in next Wednesday’s road contest against the Los Angeles Kings.
“We’re going to take it one day at a time,” Ruff responded when asked if the team will keep three goalies. “Upie, he’s had a good day today.”
Reimer shared time with Alex Lyon and Ville Husso last season, so he has experience serving as an extra goalie.
“It starts out with the kind of guys in the room,” Reimer said. “We don’t know what the future holds per se, but these two guys (Levi and Luukkonen) are great guys. Making the situation work depends a lot on the guys in the room and these guys are great. If that’s the situation, then it will work great.”
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With Thompson sidelined, the Sabres inserted Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who skated at right wing alongside center Sam Lafferty and Beck Malenstyn.
After suffering a knee injury in the season opener, Aube-Kubel returned Oct. 28. After two appearances, Ruff yanked him from the lineup for five games. He’s still wearing a brace.
“I think every player thinks they’re ready until they get in in the game situation,” Ruff said. “I really liked his game through camp and what he did leading up to when he got hurt. I thought post the games we put him back in, not as much, but I think he was playing catch-up.
“I think sometimes a player pushes it to get back. He did get back sooner than everybody anticipated. He’s strong on the puck, great skater.”
Notes: Dennis Gilbert replaced injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) against the Blues. … Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju, a regular for five years, has sat out five straight games as a healthy scratch. … Luukkonen skated prior to Thursday’s morning skate. … The Sabres begin a four-game road trip Saturday. They don’t play at home again until Nov. 27.
The #Bills beat the Colts with a ragtag group of receivers, but now they get the undefeated #Chiefs. Why #Buffalo needs to win this game, what to take from the #Sabres win streak being snapped and more from @BillHoppeNHL and me.https://t.co/fFf3Q1xmMT
— Nick Sabato (@NickSabatoGNN) November 13, 2024