Olofsson, Jost healthy scratched in rematch with Philadelphia
The Buffalo Sabres take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the back end of a home-and-home series at Key Bank Center on Friday, and for the second straight game, the Sabres have recalled a forward from their AHL affiliate to make their NHL season debut.
Earlier this week, the club placed goalie Eric Comrie and rookie Zach Benson on injured reserve. Buffalo called up winger Brandon Biro to occupy one of the open roster spots and the 25-year-old made a significant impact in the 5-2 win over the Flyers on Wednesday, scoring an even-strength and empty net goal.
On Thursday, with Alex Tuch taking a maintenance day, the Sabres recalled winger Lukas Rousek from Rochester. Head coach Don Granato indicated after an optional morning skate that the Amerks 2022-23 leading scorer would be in the lineup in the rematch with Philadelphia.
"It's an opportunity for us to see what we have in our organization, with two guys who were real good through camp and have progressively been real good in Rochester," Granato said. "It says that there's a lot of detail to their game and they're very responsible players, yet they have enough skill to make a play when there's a play to be made. They've been fun to watch, I've watched them grow and develop over the last couple of years and I've been very impressed with that progression."
Rousek had 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 70 games with Rochester last season and two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in a brief two-game NHL stint last season. This year, the 24-year-old Czech native has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in eight AHL games.
The Sabres held an optional skate on Friday, so it is unknown where Rousek will slot in, but if Buffalo maintains the top two line combos of Biro on the right side with Jordan Greenway and Tage Thompson, and Jeff Skinner with Casey Mittelstadt, and J-J Peterka, it is likely that Rousek will slot in with Dylan Cozens, and Tuch.
Tyson Jost and Victor Olofsson are expected to be healthy scratches against the Flyers.
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