Kulich Injured At Practice, Status Unknown For Upcoming Road Trip

The Buffalo Sabres, losers of three of their last four games and tied with Montreal at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, head out on a four game road trip, starting with their first meeting with former teammate Alex Tuch in Washington on Saturday. The club will then head west for a swing through California to finish out the month of October against San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles, but they could be without one of their key youngsters.

Forward Jiri Kulich was struck by a puck at the start of practice at KeyBank Center on Friday. The 22-year-old was bloodied and helped off the ice. 

"(It) didn't  look  good.  I  don't  have  an  update,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after practice. “We'll  get (an update)  as  soon  as  he's  been  evaluated, but  he's  at  the  doctor  now."  

The 22-year-old has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight games. Kulich had his minutes limited in training camp after missing most of last season with a blood clot issue and has missed two of Buffalo’s 10 games, including last week’s 5-4 overtime win over Toronto because of precautionary reasons

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In other Atlantic Division injury news, Canadiens center Nick Suzuki is expected to be out two-to-four weeks with a hand injury. The Habs are tied with the Sabres at 10 points after losing to San Jose 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday, and have been looking to add a second line center since last season. The Suzuki injury leaves Montreal stretched thin even more up the middle, with Oliver Kapanen, Alex Newhook, and Kirby Dach likely have to move up into top six roles. 

The Ottawa Senators got defenseman Jake Sanderson back against Florida on Wednesday, but lost former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to a groin injury in the third period. Ullmark was place on injured reserve on Thursday, but it is unknown how long he will be out. 

The Sabres will have to keep pace in the competitive Atlantic playing on the road the rest of the month, as they trail first place Boston by seven points, and a cluster of three teams (Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Toronto) at 14 points.     

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