BUFFALO – An upper-body injury will sideline Sabres center Marcus Johansson through the weekend, coach Ralph Krueger said this morning.
So in addition to missing tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Johansson will be out Saturday versus the Ottawa Senators and Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“We think it’s better to give him a few days here to rehab so we’re not planning with him for the three games,” Krueger said this morning inside KeyBank Center.
Krueger said the Swede could return Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild.
“It’s not a day-to-day but it’s definitely (a) short-term (injury),” he said. “It’s more an issue we want to make sure it’s not a long-term loss and getting him right back up to speed.”
With Johansson out, Curtis Lazar will make his Sabres debut tonight.
Johansson, 29, has been one of the Sabres’ most consistent presences this season, scoring four goals and 10 points in 17 games while centering the second line.
In other lineup news, goalie Carter Hutton will start tonight, his 11th nod this season.
Some other notes:
– With defenseman Marco Scandella healthy after a lower-body injury sidelined him six games, Colin Miller will be scratched tonight.
– The Hurricanes have beaten the Sabres nine straight meetings.
– Tonight will be defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s 100th NHL appearance.
Among defensemen who debuted with the Sabres, only Phil Housley, who scored 94 points in his first 100 games, compiled more points than Dahlin’s 56.
Dahlin, 19, has scored one goal and 12 points in 17 outings this season.