Alexander Sulzer skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Scott back in lineup against Bruins as Sulzer sits again

BUFFALO – The 15th-place Sabres will make one lineup change for tonight’s tilt against the Boston Bruins inside the First Niagara Center, inserting tough guy John Scott for Cody McCormick up front.

Scott sat Tuesday’s 2-0 loss in Ottawa, his first healthy scratch this season. The enforcer had a memorable knockout of the Bruins’ Shawn Thornton on Jan. 31.

Meanwhile, defensemen T.J. Brennan and Alexander Sulzer will sit again as healthy scratches.

Sulzer, who scored the game-winner Saturday, will sit his second straight contest. The German, despite three goals and a team-best plus-4 rating, has made some big gaffes.

“It’s a group that we’re trying to eliminate some of the mistakes,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning. “You can go to various individuals through this stretch and there’s been their share. There’s been mistakes that have been made that haven’t been taken advantage of. There’s been mistakes that turn out to be big plays against us.”

Sulzer wasn’t sure if he’ll sit.

“Every time you’re not getting to be dressed and play it’s frustrating,” he said. “But I guess there’s not a whole lot you can do about it except working hard every day.”

He added: “It’s a really tough decision for the coach when you have a lot of guys who can play.”

Sulzer, who ranks fifth on the Sabres in goals, has never scored at this pace before. He had four goals in 89 NHL appearances prior to this season.

“It obviously feels good,” Sulzer said.

Can he keep up this pace?

“Don’t jinx me!” he joked to a reporter.

The Sabres, losers of two straight, fell to the Bruins, one of the league’s stingiest and toughest teams, 3-1 here on Sunday.

“I think that group of six defensemen is tough,” Ruff said. “With (Zdeno) Chara back there playing half the game, he’s one of the best defenders in the league, one of the strongest. They’ve got excellent team speed, maybe the best team speed in the league.”

Update: Well, Sulzer’s actually playing tonight. It turns out Mike Weber’s sitting.

Related: Ruff ready to ‘clean up’ struggling Sabres: ‘It’s on me’

Thornton out 7-10 days with concussion after fighting Sabres’ Scott

Sabres’ Sulzer hoping to parlay late-season play into regular duty

New Sabres tough guy Scott ready to protect teammates: ‘I’ll take care of it’

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