BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jason Zucker will miss tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins because a family matter, coach Lindy Ruff said.
Ruff hopes Zucker will be available for Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Meanwhile, Ruff said winger Sam Lafferty, who took reps on a line this morning, will likely miss his third straight game with a groin injury.
Ruff said center Josh Dunne will move into the lineup and possibly skate as a winger. The Sabres recalled Dunne shortly before Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators but scratched him.
In his lone appearance with the Sabres this season, a 4-0 loss March 8 in Florida, Dunne fought the Panthers’ A.J. Greer.
“Plays hard,” Ruff said of Dunne. “He’s got some physicality to him, has played well down there.”
Dunne has compiled nine goals and 26 points in 58 games with the Rochester Americans this season.
In other lineup news, goalie James Reimer is expected to make his third straight start. The veteran has registered a 2-0-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage this week.