Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, who left the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Friday, will play in tonight’s road game against the Detroit Red Wings, coach Don Granato said this morning.
Thompson, 24, entered protocol Monday and has missed two games.
To make room for Thompson, Granato said winger Zemgus Girgensons, who has been dealing with a nagging issue, will be scratched.
Thompson has compiled a career-high 12 goals, a total that led the Sabres when he left the lineup, and 23 points in 34 games this season.
In other news, Granato said center Peyton Krebs, 20, left protocol Friday and has skated twice. Krebs, who entered protocol Jan. 4, won’t play tonight.
“We’ll come back tomorrow and see what his timetable is and how he feels,” Granato said on a Zoom call. “I was excited about the last game.”
In his last outing Jan. 1, Krebs’ nifty no-look pass created winger Alex Tuch’s first goal with the Sabres.
Granato did not reveal tonight’s starting goalie because he hadn’t informed him yet. Aaron Dell earned his first win for the Sabres in Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.
