BUFFALO – For weeks, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said, defenseman Josh Gorges “has been one miserable guy to be around.”
“I don’t walk by him without him saying he’s ready to play, and that was about 15 days ago,” Bylsma said this morning inside KeyBank Center.
Gorges, out the last 12 games with a hip injury, can finally stop badgering Bylsma. He will return tonight against the Ottawa Senators. So will defenseman Jake McCabe, who missed five games with a shoulder injury.
“The worst thing as an athlete is sitting on the sidelines watching, not being able to be out there and contributing and not being able to battle alongside your teammates,” Gorges said. “So it’s been a tough last month. It’s exciting to be back out.”
Bylsma said: “Getting two guys back that should help us immensely.”
Check back later for more on Gorges’ return.
The Sabres’ blue line is still banged up, however. Defenseman Zach Bogosian suffered a muscle/rib injury in Thursday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Rangers and is day-to-day, Bylsma said.
In other injury news, winger William Carrier will be sidelined “a little bit” with a knee injury, Bylsma said. To replace him, the Sabres have recalled winger Justin Bailey from the Rochester Americans.
Bailey, 21, has 19 goals and 29 points in 39 AHL games this season, including 11 goals in his last 12 contests. The Williamsville native has one goal in nine NHL appearances this season.
Center Cal O’Reilly, who cleared waivers Friday, has been sent to the AHL.
The Sabres will also scratch defenseman Taylor Fedun tonight.
Sabres goalie Robin Lehner will start tonight, his 34th nod. The Swede is 1-0-1 with a 1.26 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage in three games this season against the Senators, his former team.