Sabres keep sights forward after latest round of COVID absences

Brett Murray opened this season as a next man up of sorts for the Sabres, shuffling between Buffalo and Rochester depending on the team's numbers at forward. That changed in late November, when Murray played well enough to grab ahold of lineup spot he has yet to relinquish.
The last thing the 23-year-old wants to think about is a positive COVID test interrupting his progress.
"Now I feel as though I sort of cracked the lineup," Murray, who has assists in two straight games, said. "I don't want to - knock on wood - I don't want COVID to put me out for five, 10 days."

Murray adheres to protocols and does what he can to keep his playing status in his control. But as the sporting world has learned over the past month, the latest wave of COVID-19 has a knack for spreading throughout locker rooms and doing it fast.
Buffalo added three forwards - Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and Anders Bjork - to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday and held defenseman Henri Jokiharju out of practice as a precaution. They join Jacob Bryson, who entered protocol on Dec. 29, as well as Kyle Okposo and Casey Fitzgerald, who entered on Monday.
Video: After Tuesday's Practice: Brett Murray\
That's six total players now in protocol, just as the Sabres seemed to be approaching some semblance of their normal lineup. Dylan Cozens, Mark Jankowski, and Zemgus Girgensons all returned to practice after clearing protocol on Monday. Dustin Tokarski, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Jeff Skinner had all previously cleared protocol, as had coach Don Granato, video coach Myles Fee, and video coordinator Justin White.
Granato said he gauged the feelings of his players and staff before continuing with practice on Tuesday, two days out from their next scheduled home game against San Jose on Thursday night.
"This can force you to paralysis and I think we've got a room there that just won't adhere to that," he said. "They don't want to be paralyzed. They want to go. They want to keep moving forward. I do feel as much chaos is going on around us, they're still very focused on moving forward.
"… At the end of the day, they're nervous, but when it comes time to work, they want to work. They stay focused and have a sense of objective, and I feel that out of our guys. Yes, I have concern. I'm trying to gauge that every day. I'm looking them in the eyes to see whether I can push them or ask them or if something else is preoccupying them. Something else being this."
Video: After Tuesday's Practice: Don Granato
Granato had spoken Monday about using the ample practice time coming up - with one game in a stretch of nine days - to acclimate incoming players to the team. Tuch and Krebs - acquired together from Vegas in November - both made their Sabres debuts last Wednesday. Tuch had been rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery; Krebs began his tenure with the organization in Rochester.
Those processes were interrupted Tuesday. The Sabres will be without both players for at least the next five days as they attempt to reestablish the rhythm they had found during their four-game point streak in December, before postponements sent them to an elongated holiday break.
Granato's message in the face of this recent piece of adversity is the same as it's been all season.
"What excites me - and it did over the summer and I said it - is the personnel we have here," Granato said. "The growth potential that we have here. And this is stunting all of that, but that's OK. We're dealing with it. And I do believe we're going to be better because of it. I think, you know, it's always been my approach, even in life. Whatever is thrown at you is going to make you better. Don't hang your head.
"… We can't have any pity. We just move forward. I'm happy with our guys today because they practiced to get better. And when we do get all the parts together, I know we're going to be better having gone through adversity and challenges. Whether it be third period challenges or blown lead challenges, we're going to be better if we approach it the right way and this is no different."
Jack Quinn was back on the ice for practice with the Rochester Americans on Tuesday, his first skate with the team after missing all of December with mononucleosis.
Despite the absence, Quinn ranks 11th in the AHL with 24 points and is tied for eighth with 11 goals. His average of 1.41 points per game ranks third among AHL players with at least 10 games played.
Tweet from @AmerksHockey: Well, hello there! 👋 pic.twitter.com/Ni3QXs6B0S
Rochester hosts Syracuse on Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena.
Colin Miller was back with the team after missing the past three games with an injury. Granato said the defenseman's status for Thursday has not been determined.
Here's how the Sabres lined up, with forward Drake Caggiula (upper body) still sporting a non-contact jersey.
| January 4 | | --- | | LW | C | RW | | 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 24 Dylan Cozens | 15 John Hayden | | 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 29 Vinnie Hinostroza | | 57 Brett Murray | 17 Mark Jankowski | 91 Drake Caggiula | | 74 Rasmus Asplund | 20 Cody Eakin | 71 Victor Olofsson | | LD | RD | G | | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 13 Mark Pysyk | 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | | 4 Will Butcher | 33 Colin Miller | 47 Malcolm Subban | | | 6 Ethan Prow | 31 Dustin Tokarski |