Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo is out week-to-week with a lower body injury, according to the team. The team captain was injured in Buffalo’s last game against Ottawa but “gutted it out” according to head coach Don Granato.
It’s likely that Okposo will head to injured reserve. That will leave the Sabres with 13 forwards, seven defenseman, and two goalies on the active roster. Buffalo then will have an extra roster spot after loaning Eric Comrie to AHL Rochester Monday. A corresponding roster move is not expected at this time.
Okposo has eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 38 games so far this season.
Practice Notes
Eric Robinson practiced in Okposo’s vacant spot on the Sabres fourth line. It is likely that he will get the bulk of the minutes due to the Okposo injury. There were no other changes to the lineup, according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News. That would put the lines and pairings at:
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Casey Mittelstadt – Zach Benson
Zemgus Girgensons – Peyton Krebs – Zach Benson
Defensemen
Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Owen Power – Henri Jokiharju
Ryan Johnson – Connor Clifton
Goalies
Devon Levi/Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Other News
Buffalo waived goaltender Eric Comrie on Sunday and then proceeded to send him down to the Rochester Americans on Monday, after clearing. Comrie is no stranger to an AHL stint, as he’s bounced between the AHL and NHL since the 2016-2017 season. He is 1-5-0 and has a .863 save percentage in seven starts this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also waived and demoted their top goaltender heading into the season in Ilya Samsonov. Samsonov has struggled mightily this season, going 5-2-6 with an .862 save percentage in 15 starts.
For more on Comrie, Samsonov, and the goaltending market, click here.
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