Samuelsson will draw right back into the Sabres lineup after sitting out Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs with an undisclosed injury. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 23:07 time-on-ice, recording 36 points (12G / 24A), 109 hits, and 130 blocks in 64 games this season.
Kozak will slot in for Alex Tuch, who is out with an illness. Kozak has appeared in 39 games this season, tallying two goals and two assists.
Tuch is dealing with an illness and is unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Tuch is having an excellent season with Buffalo, scoring 57 points (28G / 29A) through 65 games despite seeing very little deployment on the team's top powerplay unit. He has nine points (6G / 3A) in his last eight games.
A third-round pick of the Sabres in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, McCarthy spent the last three seasons playing for Boston University. The 20-year-od blue-liner tallied eight goals and 42 assists across 113 career NCAA games.
Tuch is dealing with an illness and his status for Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights is up in the air. The 29-year-old Tuch is having an excellent season with Buffalo, scoring 57 points (28G / 29A) through 65 games despite seeing very little deployment on the team's top powerplay unit. He has nine points (6G / 3A) in his last eight games.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies since returning from the Olympic break, and will continue that trend on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Luukkonen tending the twine. The 27-year-old Luukkonen was solid in his most recent game, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%), but came up short in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Sabres are 6-1-0 in Luukkonen's last seven starts. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as +119 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has outscored their opposition 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0).
Pearson only played 8:58 time-on-ice in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals and seems to be battling an ailment after missing practice on Friday. The 33-year-old has only played one game with the Sabres since being acquired in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets. He has 13 points (7G / 6A) in 53 games this season.
Samuelson didn't seem to show any ill effects during Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, playing 20:30 time-on-ice, but he was absent from practice on Friday. The 25-yer-old defenseman is averaging 23:07 time-on-ice, recording 36 points (12G / 24A), 109 hits, and 130 blocks in 64 games this season.
Tuch was absent from practice on Wednesday and did not play on Thursday, but was back to practice on Friday, indicating he could be ready when Buffalo returns to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.
Pearson will make his Sabres debut on Thursday, slotting in for the injured Alex Tuch (lower-body). Pearson appeared in 52 games with the Jets this season, tallying seven goals and six assists.
Tuch did not practice on Wednesday, and will be unavailable for Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.
The Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres seem to win regardless of who is tending the twine and, as such, will keep their goalie rotation going on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, turning to Luukkonen. The 27-year-old Luukkonen is coming off one of his worst statistical outings of the season, allowing seven goals on 28 shots (.750 SV%), but the powerhouse Sabres still salvaged an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres have wins in six of Luukonen's last seven appearances (6-1-0), while he boasts a solid 2.77 GAA and .911 SV%. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -195 home favourites against a Capitals team that played last night and lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tuch did not practice on Wednesday, and his status remains uncertain for Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old forward has 57 points (28G / 29A) in 64 games this season, including nine points (6G / 3A) during a seven-game point streak.
