BUFFALO – Some quick notes on this afternoon’s Sabres tilt against the Detroit Red Wings inside KeyBank Center:
– The Sabres will make one lineup change, inserting winger Tage Thompson, a healthy scratch for Thursday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, for rookie C.J. Smith.
“I liked C.J.’s game, but it’s part of his development,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said this morning. “I thought Tage had a really good, solid game against Detroit last game. We’re just getting him back in the lineup.”
Thompson scored in the Sabres’ 3-2 shootout win Nov. 24 in Detroit.
– Housley said goalie Linus Ullmark will start. Ullmark made 35 saves Nov. 24.
– The Sabres are 4-1-0 in afternoon games this year. Why have they been so successful?
“The just the preparation of guys being ready,” Housley said. “We talked about that. You have to get your head geared up and your mind geared up to get ready, because you’ve just eaten some scrambled eggs and now you’re expected to go out and perform.”
I think Tage has some talents in him that he has yet to reveal. He is so smooth,along with a few tricks up his sleeve also. He doesn’t seem to be rattled by pressure. He gives me that “It’s all good feeling” and what a wrist shot. Think he’s a gold mine that hasn’t been realized. He needs a big opportunity,and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.