Linus Omark has one assist in nine games. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Linus Omark to be scratched again tonight versus Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – The Sabres will only make one lineup change tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, inserting Marcus Foligno for injured winger Matt D’Agostini.

That means winger Linus Omark, a healthy scratch for the first time in Wednesday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Toronto, will sit again. The slick Swede has one assist in nine games since being acquired from Edmonton.

What can Omark do to get back in?

“Not much else he can do,” interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “Just right now he’s got to be patient. Last game we made a change. We’re not going to change the lineup. So it has nothing to do so much with him right now. We just played well last game.”

Omark needs to play on one of the top three lines.

“You play him where John Scott or (Matt) Ellis goes, it doesn’t make too much sense,” Nolan said. “Those guys are energy guys and they play the body. They bring a different element.”

Of course, minute-munching defenseman Christian Ehrhoff will play tonight. Nolan has been giving the German his usual 24 or so minutes.

But Nolan wants more from Ehrhoff, who he believes is pressing. An Ehrhoff giveaway created a Toronto goal Wednesday, a game he was a minus-2.

“I think he’s just trying too hard. He’s pushing too hard,” Nolan said. “He’s got the big contract, the big responsibility, the big label on his game versus just being Chris and just playing. So he’s got to get back to what makes him effective and not take the world upon his shoulders and really lead this team. He’s just got to be part of the leadership versus the leader.”

Sabres goalie Ryan Miller will start. The Blue Jackets have won five straight.

Update: Sergei Bobrovsky, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, will start in goal for Columbus.

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