Tuch is expected to miss seven to 10 days with an undisclosed injury. Tuch's absence from the lineup will be a sizeable blow for a Sabres team that already struggles to score goals (2.84 GF / GP) but, luckily for the Sabres, Tage Thompson (upper-body) will return from a multi-week injury just as Tuch exits the lineup.
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovering from an illness, the Sabres have called Devon Levi, who is expected to serve as the backup to Eric Comrie on Tuesday. Comrie has been inconsistent through six games this season (1-4-0), posting an ugly 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. and has failed to record a quality start since his season debut on October 21st. The Sabres have struggled to score, losing three straight contests, and, as such, are +119 home underdogs against a rolling Detroit Red Wings team that has won five of their last six outings (5-1-0).
Markstrom will be out week-to-week with a fractured finger, an injury sustained after taking a puck to his hand at practice on Monday. Dustin Wolf has been recalled from the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL in the interim, which could be an opportunity for the promising youngster to get a deeper look at the NHL level as he battles it out for starts with Dan Vladar.
Jacob Markstrom is out week-to-week with a fractured finger, resulting in the call-up of Dustin Wolf from the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL. Wolf was unspectacular in his one game with the Flames earlier this season, allowing four goals on 34 shots (.895 SV%) in a losing effort, but will likely get a deeper look with an extended stay with the team. With the Wranglers, Wolf has been excellent, boasting a 2.50 GAA and .920 SV% in 13 games (10-3-0).
Soderblom has only one victory in his last nine appearances but will likely start on Tuesday for a struggling Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-3 over their last three games (0-3-0). Soderblom has an undesirable 3.71 GAA and .883 SV% in 11 games (2-8-0) this season as the Blackhawks are sizeable +167 home underdogs against a Nashville Predators team that ranks mid-pack in the league offensively (3.17 GF / GP).
Olausson has one NHL game under his belt, last season with the Avalanche, being held without a point in the effort. The 28th overall pick of the Avalanche in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has eight points (5G / 3A) in 20 games with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL this season.
Zadina has not suited up for the last five games due to a lower-body injury but is expected to make his return to the Sharks lineup on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Zadina has struggled in his first season with the Sharks, as has most of the team, scoring five points (3G / 2A) and registering an ugly -19 plus/minus through 20 games.
Sturm did not play on Sunday but is expected to return to the Sharks' lineup on Tuesday and skate on a line with Justin Bailey and Kevin Labanc. Sturm is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice through 22 games this season but has only two points (0G / 2A), being held without a point in 91% of contests.
Johnson played 15:23 in the Sabres' last game on Sunday but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch for the second time in their last three games. The 22-year-old rookie is averaging 14:08 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 10 blocks through 13 games this season.
If Gudbranson is unable to play on Tuesday, expect Andrew Peeke to draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets. Gudbranson has played all 26 games for the Blue Jackets this season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), averaging 19:47 time-on-ice, and registering a -11 plus/minus through 26 games.
Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).
Chabot and the Senators are awaiting his MRI results, hoping for positive news, as any prolonged absence for Chabot will be a disheartening blow for the team after just recently re-welcoming him back into the lineup. He was not able to complete Saturday's game, his second game after a 10-game absence due to a hand injury, exiting late in the third period after playing 22:29 with an undisclosed injury. In the two games, Chabot scored one point (0G / 1A) and eight shots on goal while quarterbacking the Senators' top powerplay unit.
Greig was having a tremendous season before being derailed by a lower-body injury that has forced him to miss the last 10 games. He has seven points (2G / 5A) and 18 shots on goal through nine games this season and is expected to skate alongside Dominik Kubalik and Mathieu Joseph in his return to the lineup against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Joseph has not played since November 4th, recovering from a lower-body injury, and has only played five total games this season. As a result, he has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL for a conditioning stint and will presumably be recalled in the near future.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is battling an illness, resulting in Devon Levi being recalled from the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Levi has played well since his demotion to Rochester, posting a 2.94 GAA and .921 SV% in two games (1-1-0). He will likely serve as the backup to Eric Comrie in the Sabres' Tuesday night matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.
With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovering from an illness, the Sabres have called Devon Levi, who is expected to serve as the backup to Eric Comrie on Tuesday. Comrie has been inconsistent through six games this season (1-4-0), posting an ugly 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. and has failed to record a quality start since his season debut on October 21st. The Sabres have struggled to score, losing three straight contests, and, as such, are +119 home underdogs against a rolling Detroit Red Wings team that has won five of their last six outings (5-1-0).
Sorokin is coming off an impressive 42-save performance (.933 SV%) in the Islanders' 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday and will start again on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Despite a career-low GAA (3.09) and save percentage (.914) through 15 games, Sorokin has been better lately, allowing only 10 total goals in his last four games (2-1-1), posting a solid .935 SV%. The Islanders are -272 home favourites against the Sharks who, despite being the lowest-scoring team in the NHL (1.88 GF / GP), have scored nine goals over their last two games (1-1-0).
The Sabres have recalled Devon Levi, likely to serve as backup to Eric Comrie, while Luukkonen is unable to suit up due to an illness. Luukkonen has unquestionably been the most dynamic and consistent of the three Sabres goaltenders this season, with seven quality starts through 11 games (.636 QS %). Expect Luukkonen to regain command of the starters as soon as he recovers.
Thompson is expected to make his much awaited return Tuesday after taking full part in practice earlier. His presence at morning skate on Tuesday is a welcoming sign for a Sabres' team that has struggled to generate consistent offence in his absence. Thompson last played on November 14th and was not having the season the elite centre iceman was expecting after a breakout 2022-23 campaign, scoring only 12 points (6G / 6A) through 16 games.
Forsberg saved 39 shots for his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday and will likely be rewarded with the starter's crease on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Forsberg has a few elite performances this season but has lacked consistency, following up each of his last two quality starts with sub-.810 SV% losing efforts. The Senators are +115 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won three straight and scored four or more goals in three of their last five games (4-1-0).
