The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon recalled rookie defenseman Zach Metsa following a three-game weekend trip to the Rochester Americans.
Metsa, Rochester’s captain, registered zero points as the Amerks compiled a 2-1-0 mark.
The Sabres on Thursday assigned Metsa to the AHL so he could play big minutes instead of sitting out in Buffalo as a healthy scratch.
When defenseman Conor Timmins returned from a broken leg last week, Metsa sat out one game.
Metsa has looked impressive on the Sabres’ third defense pair, registering two goals, six points and a plus-20 rating while averaging 10 minutes, 19 seconds of ice time over his first 38 NHL outings.
Incredibly, at five-on-five, he has been on the ice for 23 goals for and just two goals against.
The Sabres have nine healthy defensemen on their roster.