BUFFALO – The Sabres had the option to send rookie Zach Metsa back to the minors, so they figured what the heck, why not take it?
Instead of scratching the defenseman, by assigning him to the Rochester Americans as they did Thursday, he can play big minutes this weekend.
“He’ll play 20-plus minutes, which will be great for him,” Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center, where the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings tonight.
The Amerks begin a stretch of three games in three days tonight against the Toronto Marlies at Blue Cross Arena.
Metsa, Rochester’s captain, has looked impressive for the Sabres in limited action on their third pair, registering two goals, six points and a plus-20 rating in his first 38 NHL outings.
Incredibly, at five-on-five, he has been on the ice for 23 goals for and just two goals against.
But with Conor Timmins healthy again after breaking his leg, Metsa, 27, lost his spot in the lineup. So for the weekend at least, he’s back with the Amerks.
“Short-term here with Timmins going back in, we feel Timmins can help our penalty killing,” Ruff said. “(We believe) being healthy back there that the best thing – these next three or four days at least, we’re not going to practice – (is) get him playing time.”
Metsa has registered two goals and 15 points in 16 games with the Amerks this season.
In other news, Ruff said rookie forward Noah Ostlund, who missed Thursday’s practice with an upper-body injury, is a “possibility” to play tonight. Ostlund participated in this morning’s optional pregame skate.
Ruff said Ostlund, 22, is day to day.