Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - It looks like Zach Metsa will be back into the Buffalo Sabres lineup on Tuesday after playing three weekend games with the Rochester Americans. Lindy Ruff said he’s definitely a possibility to play and Michael Kesselring, Conor Timmins and Luke Schenn were all skating extra after the morning skate, while Metsa didn’t take part in the optional skate.
There’s also a pretty good chance that Jordan Greenway will make his return for the injured Noah Ostlund. On Monday in practice he played left wing with Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn. Greenway has been out since Jan. 22 after having two surgeries that pretty much didn’t work.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will get back-to-back starts for the first time since Jan. 6. His .922 save percentage leads the NHL since Dec. 8. Alex Lyon has had two straight sub-par starts, but Ruff is not calling Luukkonen his No. 1 goalie and is not counting out Lyon,
“Both our goaltenders have played incredibly well for us, and I’m not putting a No. 1 label on anybody, but I know that to get to this point, and the amount we’ve used both guys, they’re both No. 1’s right now.”
Josh Norris has struggled quite a bit offensively lately scoring just one goal and one assist in his last 11 games and the goal was an empty netter in Vegas. With that being said, I think his defensive game has been good during this time as there have been times just the hustle he’s shown by getting back has helped break up plays. Of course going cold is frustrating for him, but he’s had to look for other ways to contribute,
“I’d love to help out more offensively and get on the scoresheet more, but I think that’s the strength of our team, when certain guys aren’t as hot offensively, I think other guys step up and just different guys are scoring,
“So I’ve tried to be really good defensively because if you don’t have your A-game, you’ve got to have something to fallback on and I think I’ve done a good job on the other side of the puck.”
Norris has been in this league long enough to know that slumps happen and they can’t consume you. He said,
“Early on in my career you go through stretches where you feel like you’re never going to score a goal again, but as you get older you learn how to deal with those thoughts and laugh at them and stick to your game and try not to be outcome oriented, just take it game-by-game and just try to be better.”
Here in Buffalo the Sabres knocked off the New Islanders in a shootout and then on Long Island, Lyon posted a 26 save 5-0 shutout.
The Sabres are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a points percentage of .662. Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes lead at .671. All three teams have 98 points. The Montreal Canadiens have five straight wins and are four points back.
On Tuesday Tampa Bay hosts Montreal, while Carolina hits the road to play the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Islanders got waxed at home on Monday by the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-3. Ilya Sorokin got pulled in that game after giving up seven goals on 28 shots in 47:54 of work. It’s the second time in five starts he’s been pulled. On March 21 in Montreal he left after giving up six goals on 32 shots in 50:47 of action. Overall Sorokin is 28-19-2 with a 2.58 goals against and .910 save percentage.
In scoring Mat Barzal leads the way with 19 goals and 48 assists for 67 points in 74 games. The first overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, defenseman Matthew Schaefer is next with 22 goals and 34 assists for 56 points in 75 games.
Join “Schopp and the Bulldog” for the pregame starting at 6:00 when you’ll hear from Ruff, Luukkonen and Alex Tuch.
Josh Norris has been contributing, but not in the way you'd think he should.
