Raleigh, N.C. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres have called Matt Savoie up from his conditioning stint with the Rochester Americans. That's because the team has placed forward Brandon Biro on Injured Reserve with an injury the medical staff is still looking into.
Savoie won’t play on Tuesday in Carolina against the Hurricanes, because head coach Don Granato would like to get him some practice time.
In Rochester, the Sabres' 2022 first-round pick had two goals and three assists for five points in six games. Savoie says he’s glad he got some games in at the professional level.
"It was great," said Savoie following Monday's practice. "To get back into some games, it’s a good coaching staff, and I took a lot of things away. I’m ready to go now."
Savoie hadn’t played a game since mid-September at the Sabres Prospects Challenge, so it’s something he felt he needed so he could ramp up.
"With how long it was since I played a meaningful game, it definitely took a game or two, but I tried my best to jump in with both feet in," Savoie said. "I thought I did a good job of that, just attacking it when I got there, and I found some success."
Savoie played for the Amerks last season in the Eastern Conference Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs. He felt he took a lot from that experience.
"I learned a lot about what it’s like to play pro hockey," Savoie said. "I was thrown into it after a long run in the Western League with my WHL team, but I took a lot away from those two games. I prepared during the summer to get better on certain things, and I thought I did that."
Dylan Cozens didn’t practice on Monday, but Granato says there’s a good chance he’ll return to practice in a few days.
Granato said after practice that Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be more of a rotation now in net. Levi played in the first four games of the season, and then when Luukkonen got his chance, he played in five-straight games.
MONDAY’S LINES:
Forwards:
Greenway – Mittelstadt – Peterka
Skinner – Thompson – Tuch
Olofsson – Krebs – Rousek (Savoie)
Girgensons – Jost – Okposo
Defense:
Clifton – E. Johnson
Power – Jokiharju
Dahlin – R. Johnson
Bryson
