Mattias Samuelsson has once again been one of the Buffalo Sabres’ most physical blueliners, and he is on track to record career highs in hits (83) and blocks (86) this season. While Samuelsson is not recognised for his offensive abilities, he does have a game-winning goal and seven points this season, as well as a plus-4 rating.
Samuelsson, Zemgus Girgensons, and Erik Johnson will all miss tomorrow night’s game due to upper-body injuries, according to Mike Harrington of Buffalo News.
With Samuelsson and Johnson out for Saturday’s game, the Sabres will have to get creative with their defensive pairs once again. Rasmus Dahlin teamed with the recently-recalled Jacob Bryson in the Sabres’ victory over the Los Angeles Kings, and we’ll see if that trend continues tomorrow.
Samuelsson and Girgensons will miss Buffalo Sabres’ California finale.
Samuelsson has struggled to remain healthy since his arrival in Buffalo, limiting him to only 55 games last season and 41 this year. If there’s any solace for the 2023-24 season, it’s that he’s never been out with an injury for an extended amount of time, so let’s hope that continues.
Overall, expect Jacob Bryson to return to the lineup tomorrow night as the former full-time Sabre attempts to prove he still deserves a chance in the NHL. If Samuelsson misses an extended period of time, Bryson will most likely be seen in a Buffalo Sabres uniform after the All-Star break.
Girgensons’ replacement will be either Zach Benson or Victor Olofsson, who, according to Harrington, were both on the fourth line in practice. Girgensons has been injured several times this season, limiting him to only 31 games thus far.
Tomorrow is the Sabres’ final game until February 6th, when they face the Dallas Stars, so we’ll keep an eye on Samuelsson and Girgensons, while Johnson should be ready to go.
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• Three key takeaways for the Buffalo Sabres’ West Coast finale versus the Sharks.
The Buffalo Sabres successfully overcome multi-goal deficits.
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