The Buffalo Sabres begin the California leg of their four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday and will get back starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but center Tage Thompson is still not ready to return to the lineup.
Luukkonen was a full go at practice on Friday and Monday after missing two games with an unspecified lower-body injury and said he felt ready to go before the club left for the West Coast. That led the Sabres to send goalie Devon Levi down to the American Hockey League to get some work in.
Thompson practiced for the first time since leaving the 7-5 loss to Montreal last week with a lower-body injury and said on Monday that he hoped the lingering injury would not keep him out another game, but head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that the Sabres top scorer was still not ready to play.
Related: Thompson Hopeful That His Nagging Injury Is Behind Him
“We are just taking this a day at a time,” Ruff said after the morning skate. “(We are) hopeful for Friday (against Anaheim). If not, Saturday (against San Jose).”
Winger Alex Tuch was absent from practice on Monday and did not take the morning skate in L.A., but Ruff said that his absence was strictly maintenance and that he would be in the lineup. Jiri Kulich, who was recalled from AHL Rochester on Friday, will play his first NHL game at center against the Kings.
“He’s a natural centerman. I think with Tage out, it’s an opportunity for us to take a look,” Ruff said. “We can always, if it doesn’t go well, swing (Sam) Lafferty to the middle and make some adjustments.”
On defense, Henri Jokiharju steps back into the lineup in place of Dennis Gilbert. Jokiharju has been a healthy scratch for six games, but Ruff indicated that the veteran defenseman would get an opportunity to play at some point during the road trip.
Related: Can The Sabres Get Going In The Golden State?
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
