BUFFALO – In his seven appearances this season, Sabres rookie Jiri Kulich has often impressed coach Lindy Ruff, earning ice time alongside established talent on scoring lines and the power play.
Ruff even kept Kulich, 20, in the lineup once over winger Jack Quinn.
But with winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel ready to return from a lower-body injury tonight, Ruff said Kulich will likely be scratched against the Florida Panthers.
Ruff expects defenseman Owen Power, who has been sick, to play tonight. Power missed the end of Saturday afternoon’s 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He practiced Sunday and skated again this morning.
If Power can’t play, then Kulich, the 28th overall pick in 2022, could dress.
“He’s done a lot of good things,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “If that ends up being the player that’s out, he’s been working real hard, his practices have been great. He continues to work on his game to make him a full-time NHL player.”
Kulich has compiled one goal this season.
Update: Kulich is officially scratched.
Aube-Kubel practiced Sunday at left wing alongside Quinn and center Dylan Cozens, the spot Kulich has recently occupied.
In other lineup news, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be making his fourth straight start.
The Sabres, who have won three straight contests, haven’t had a four-game winning streak since Jan. 19 to 26, 2023.
Update: Panthers coach Paul Maurice said captain Aleksander Barkov will be returning tonight from a lower-body injury that sidelined him eight games.