BUFFALO – Sabres center Ryan McLeod, who has an undisclosed injury, participated in this morning’s optional skate and will be a game-time decision tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Lindy Ruff.
McLeod missed Thursday’s practice for maintenance.
The Sabres, who own an 11-game winless streak (0-8-3), will receive some much-needed help tonight, as captain Rasmus Dahlin is ready to play. Their top defenseman missed eight games battling back spasms.
With Dahlin back, defenseman Henri Jokiharju, a healthy scratch seven times this season, could be the odd man out. The Finn practiced Thursday alongside Jacob Bryson.
Ruff also said center Sam Lafferty, who has missed nine games with a lower-body injury, “in all likelihood he will get the nod tonight.”
Meanwhile, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start against the Leafs in KeyBank Center.
The Sabres play a road game Saturday against the Boston Bruins, so chances are Luukkonen won’t start consecutive games.
On Sunday afternoon, the Sabres recalled goalie Devon Levi to start the second game of a back-to-back set. They returned him to the Rochester Americans following their 5-3 loss in Toronto.
Could they summon Levi again instead of using veteran backup James Reimer, who struggled in his last start Dec. 9?
“He would be an option, but we haven’t really discussed that as of now,” Ruff said.
In other news, Toronto coach Craig Berube said goalie Matt Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, will be starting tonight, his first NHL appearance since April 2, 2023.
Leave Levi in Rochester.
Jerking him back & forth isn’t helping him.
Continue to let him develop in Rochester by playing minutes.
UPL is unquestionably our #1 goalie, for all you boxscore watchers thinking otherwise.
Looking forward to witnessing what kind of effort Buffalo brings tonight.
I agree leave Levi down there you don’t want him anywhere around this mess in buffalo