Here's how the group lined up during the morning skate. Craig Anderson was the first goaltender off the ice, meaning he is likely to start.
| October 22 at Vancouver |
| --- |
| LW | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 74 Rasmus Asplund | 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 71 Victor Olofsson |
| 77 JJ Peterka | 24 Dylan Cozens | 29 Dylan Cozens |
| 22 Jack Quinn | 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| | | |
| LD | RD | G |
| 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 41 Craig Anderson |
| 25 Owen Power | 46 Ilya Lyubushkin | 31 Eric Comrie |
| 78 Jacob Bryson | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | |
| | | |
Jack Quinn is expected to be back in the lineup after sitting out the last two games, a step Granato believes will benefit the rookie.
"I do think for young players, some sort of balance can help them progress," Granato said. "Especially at that age. To step back out of the fire, out of the heat of the moment, and have time to digest more of what we're talking about, more of what's going on in the league."
He will step in for Peyton Krebs, who has played the first four games of the season. The Sabres are currently carrying 14 healthy forwards and - as long as that remains the case - could continue with a rotation of sorts moving forward.
"If we stay healthy up front, we're going to need a rotation," Granato said. "We have a 23-man roster in the NHL. So, three guys are out of the lineup, and you don't want to keep any three out of the lineup for long."
Video: PREGAME: Granato
Rasmus Dahlin has goals in each of the Sabres' first four games, the longest such streak for a defenseman to open a season in NHL history. His six points are tied for most among NHL defensemen, while his plus-6 rating is tied for second.
This all coincides with a return to the site of what may have been Dahlin's best game last season. Dahlin skated 22:50, tallied an assist and scored the overtime winning goal in the Sabres' visit to Rogers Arena on March 20, a 3-2 victory.
"It's pretty cool for him to create history," his defense partner, Mattias Samuelsson, said. "He works so hard every day. Practice, games, off the ice, on the ice. I know it's something small and he says it doesn't matter. But I'm happy for him, it's pretty cool. He's in history now."
Lyubushkin had an eventful game in Edmonton prior to sustaining his injury midway through the second period. He delivered two loud hits - one on Leon Draisaitl while the Sabres were on the penalty kill and one in open ice on rookie Dylan Holloway, which ignited a scrum that ended with an Oilers penalty.
"He can hammer guys," Samuelsson said. "He brings energy. A little bit of toughness, grit. It's nice to have that back there. He's a little bit older, too, and the rest of us are pretty young so he's a calming presence back there. Makes the simple plays. He's been really good so far."
Video: PREGAME: Samuelsson
Vancouver went winless on its season-opening, five-game road trip, including overtime losses in its two most recent games. They have been outscored 10-1 in third periods.
The Canucks may be without their top defenseman for their home opener. Quinn Hughes, who ranks second in the NHL in average ice time, is a game-time decision, coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters.
Bo Horvat leads the Canucks with four goals, all of which have come in the last three games. Elias Pettersson leads the team with six points (3+3).
