BUFFALO – The Sabres will make one lineup change tonight against the Dallas Stars, inserting 19-year-old defenseman Nikita Zadorov for Andre Benoit.
Zadorov has struggled in recent weeks, becoming a healthy scratch after earning regular duty throughout November and December.
What does Sabres coach Ted Nolan want to see from the Russian?
“With a young defenseman, you just want to make sure you grab those young mistakes real quick, want to make sure they don’t become habit, because we’re all creatures of habit,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center.
Zadorov, who will be paired beside Rasmus Ristolainen, said he must “skate harder and play harder.”
“Every time I try my best,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not working out, sometimes you have a bad game, bad days. You just got to step up and don’t look back.”
In other lineup news, center Marcus Foligno (hand) will likely sit one more game. The Sabres host the New York Islanders on Sunday. Foligno will definitely be back when the Sabres play the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, Nolan said.
Foligno will have to play with a splint at first.
“I have a pretty good grip on it,” Foligno said. “Sometimes it jams up the wrist a bit. For the most part – shooting, snapshots – it feels pretty good.”
The Sabres will try something different tonight to help their NHL-worst power play, moving winger Matt Moulson to a point position. Moulson’s known for his net-front presence, but he said he manned a point in college.
“He’s a heady player, he’s smart with the puck, and back there, you need a good quarterback,” Nolan said.
Jhonas Enroth will start in goal tonight.