Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – COVID-19 has already hit the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans hard, but both teams have recently added players to COVID-19 protocols.
Jacob Bryson was added to the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol on Wednesday, joining head coach Don Granato and forwards Zemgus Girgensons, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jeff Skinner, Dylan Cozens and Mark Jankowski.
In Rochester, Mattias Samuelsson, Matej Pekar, Sean Malone and Jimmy Schuldt are all in COVID-19 protocols.
Buffalo will also be missing Casey Mittelstadt, Craig Anderson, Dustin Tokarski, Drake Caggiula and Colin Miller due to injuries. That’s 11 players out due to injury or COVID-19.
All that means JJ Peterka and Ethan Prow will be playing their first NHL games on Wednesday, while Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs will be making their Sabres debuts.
Tuch was supposed to play over a week ago, but the Dec. 20 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets got postponed.
“It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster," Tuch said of his up-and-down week. "It was nice to be able to get home for Christmas and be with the family for the first time in six years, but not being able to play was a little bit of a downer. But it gives me an extra week to get into it.”
Tuch is obviously a very humble man. This is a player that has scored 20 goals in 74 games in one season with Vegas, and last year netted 18 in 55 games. When he was asked about playing with Peterka and Tage Thompson, he deferred to them.
“If you saw my facial expressions during practice you could see I was shocked at some of the plays that JJ Peterka was making, I mean he’s a 19-year-old kid and Tage Thompson has been one of our best players this year.
“[Thompson] was a year behind me at the U.S. [National Team Development] Program, and I watched him a little bit with the U.S. teams. He’s been a pleasant surprise for sure, and I think he’s just scratching the surface. I’m definitely playing with two players that are a little bit more skilled than me, so I’m just trying to keep up and keep my head on a swivel. You never know when you’ll get the puck.”
Peterka is all revved up to play his first NHL game at such a young age. I wondered what Tuch, as a veteran, would say to him.
“Don’t calm down, just keep that smile on your face," Tuch said with a laugh. "He’s not overthinking out there. He’s going out having fun. He’s vocal, and he’s fit right in. I love the positivity and confidence he has, and I think it’ll help his game tonight.”
Matt Ellis is making his head coaching debut on Wednesdau. Ellis was a student of the game while he was a player, and there were coaches he got a lot from.
“Just mentioning Lindy [Ruff] is someone I learned a ton from. Watching his approach day-to-day, the structure that he implemented," Ellis said.
“James Patrick on that staff would be another one, so those two were great, great guys for me to look at as mentors. I learned a lot in Detroit playing for Mike Babcock, thinking back to some of those lessons as well.”
The Sabres have gone 2-0-2 in their last four games.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be in goal on Wednesday. He was spectacular since being recalled from Rochester, going 2-2-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.
Victor Olofsson and Skinner were replaced on the first power play by Tuch and Peterka. Olofsson hasn’t scored in the 14 games since coming back from injury. His last goal was on Oct. 31 in Los Angeles against the Kings.
Thompson hasn’t scored in 10 games, but he was fighting an injury before the break.
Arttu Ruotsalainen has also been recalled from Rochester. In six games with the Amerks, he had no goals in two assists. In 16 games with the Sabres, Ruotsalainen scored two goals and two assists for four points.
Lindy Ruff’s crew has had COVID-19 and injury problems too. The Devils have played six goalies, but their No. 1 netminder Mackenzie Blackwood is back. This season, he’s 5-6-3 with a 3.14 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.
The Devils have lost six-straight games and have only won one of their last 11.
Jesper Bratt is New Jersey’s leading scorer with 24 points in 29 games. Jack Hughes has eight points in 13 games.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when they’ll be joined by Ellis, Tuch, Krebs and Peterka.
Wednesday’s Lines:
Forwards:
Peterka – Thompson – Tuch
Murray – Krebs – Okposo
Asplund – Ruotsalainen – Olofsson
Bjork – Eakin – Hayden
Defense:
Dahlin – Jokiharju
Pysyk – Fitzgerald
Butcher – Prow
PP1:
Tuch – Thompson – Peterka – Asplund – Dahlin
PP2:
Okposo – Krebs – Olofsson – Murray – Butcher
