Casey Mittelstadt will miss his second game tonight. ©2019, Hickling Images

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian set to return; Casey Mittelstadt out again

BUFFALO – Defenseman Zach Bogosian, who ranks second on the Sabres in ice time, will return tonight after a lower-body injury sidelined him two games.

To make room, defenseman Matt Hunwick will be scratched against the New York Rangers.

A lower-body injury, meanwhile, will force center Casey Mittelstadt to miss his second straight game. The rookie skated this morning and is day-to-day, Sabres coach Phil Housley said.

After a sluggish start to their seven-game home stand – the Chicago Blackhawks annihilated them 7-3 on Feb. 1 – the Sabres can close it two games over .500. So far, they’re 3-2-1.

Following some downright embarrassing defensive efforts, the Sabres started clamped down and limiting opportunities.

“I credit the players,” Housley said inside KeyBank Center. “If things aren’t going the way you want them to – we’re losing our coverage, we’re giving up goals – (make) some adjustments. The credit goes to them, because they’re paying attention to the detail part of the game without the puck in front of our net. There’s not been a lot of second or third opportunities against us.”

In other lineup news, Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark will start, his 26th appearance this season. Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev will oppose him.

Georgiev made 43 saves in a 5-1 win over the Sabres on March 24 in New York.

The Bulgarian just enjoyed the best outing of his 29-game career Sunday, celebrating his 23rd birthday by stopping 55 shots in a 4-1 home victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

One thought on “Sabres’ Zach Bogosian set to return; Casey Mittelstadt out again”

  1. Damn I was hoping they were both scratched. BOGO, while a nice guy turns pucks over that end up in the net. He simply cannot keep up with the speed of the game (MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY) and gets caught staring at the play. Casey is still a BOY playing a man’s game. When he grows up, he should give it another try!

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