Okay, I’m not panicking, but it’s hard not to wince at two injuries on defense barely 120 minutes into the preseason. Mattias Samuelsson is “week to week” with a lower-body injury, and Olen Zellweger is in the concussion protocol. Zellweger is probably not going to be out super long, but you never know with these things.
*In the background Tim Connolly bumps his head exiting his truck, is now in concussion protocol*
Ahem. Anyway, the Sabres have depth, and with a very short run-up to the regular season, they need it. Radim Mrtka and Ryan Johnson joined practice but we’ll have to see who plays in the next game with the regulars.
As for the game itself, Buffalo ran roughshod over the Blue Jackets from the second period on. Noah Östlund earned the umlaut on his sweater this year with 2 goals in less thant 30 seconds. Norris, Timmins, and Tage had the other goals. It was a rough, physical game, which might make the season opener interesting, as Buffalo goes to Columbus on October 3rd to open up regular season play. Columbus iced most of their farm players (much as Buffalo did in their first preseason game) so while I really liked the play of the team for the most part (solid passing but not overdoing it, taking shots when available), I don’t think we’ll know much until it’s best on best. I *did* like what I saw from Louis Crevier, it’s like Logan Stanley knew how to skate.
Might try and go to the game on Saturday. Until then, Go Sabres!