BUFFALO – After blocking a shot last Saturday and crawling off the ice injured, Sabres winger Jason Zucker returned to the game and played again Tuesday.
Zucker, 33, seemed to be fine.
Well, not quite. The veteran will his miss his second straight game tonight with a lower-body injury.
What’s going on?
“He’s just having trouble with his injury,” coach Lindy Ruff said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. “He didn’t anticipate it, and neither did we.”
Zucker has been a significant contributor to the Sabres after signing a one-year contract, scoring 18 goals and 44 points in 54 games.
He recently acknowledged the sides have discussed an extension. With an expiring contract, he could also be dealt before Friday’s trade deadline.
Ruff thought Zucker would be available for Thursday’s 5-2 road loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He said the Sabres aren’t “being cautious” with him.
“There’s just something that continues to nag at it and can’t get up and running,” he said.
In other lineup news, Ruff said defensemen Jacob Bryson and Connor Clifton, both of whom have been scratched the last three games, will play tonight.
The Sabres could dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
Meanwhile, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who got yanked Thursday after allowing two goals in the opening 7:57, is expected to start.