Greenway performs well playing center for the first time
The Buffalo Sabres went through an hour-long at Key Bank Center on Friday in preparation for the third of their six-game homestand against the Pacific Division-leading Vancouver Canucks on Saturday afternoon and did so without defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and center Tage Thompson.
Dahlin did not participate due to a maintenance day and is expected to be in the lineup against the Canucks, but Thompson’s status is in question after scoring a pair of goals in the 5-3 win over Ottawa on Thursday.
Thompson left the game on two separate occasions to get stitches and to have a skatelace replaced but missed the final six minutes of the third period due to an undisclosed injury. A club spokesman indicated that the center was undergoing an MRI on Friday, but head coach Don Granato did not rule out the possibility of him playing on Saturday
"In the past, we've had situations like this with him. (Tage is) ultra-competitive. He's played lots of games not at 100%." Granato said.
Kyle Okposo replaced injured winger Jeff Skinner in the lineup against Ottawa, with Casey Mittelstadt moving up to the top line with Thompson and Alex Tuch, and Jordan Greenway shifted to center between Kyle Okposo and rookie Zach Benson.
"(Jordan's) had enough experience now and games under his belt that he recognizes situations and his responsibility within it. Whether it's wing or center, he's picked up for the centerman. These guys aren't always in position with the flow of the game. Wingers have to pick up the center's responsibilities, for trips down the ice," Granato said. "(On) the defensive side, he's very, very responsible and should be very effective for us there."
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen worked at the home end of the rink at practice and could get his second straight start against Vancouver after making 25 saves in the win over Ottawa.
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