Video: Tuesday's Practice Report
Following a rehab skate Tuesday morning, he took the ice for practice with his teammates and could very well be ready to go for Wednesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
"It was nice, nice to get back at it. I was not sure that I was going to feel a hundred (percent), but I did, so it's great," Dahlin said. "I'm happy to be back."
Video: After Tuesday's practice: Rasmus Dahlin
Sabres coach Don Granato was still waiting for a full report from the medical staff when he spoke with the media, but was happy to see Dahlin on the ice.
"I think they're worried about strength in the area of the injury and potential vulnerability due to any of lack of strength," Granato said. "So, testing that out today, it looked like he felt and had his strength and obviously he wasn't wincing, so it looked like there was no more pain or less pain in that area, the area of aggravation.
"I'm expecting a good report when I hear from the medical team after his practice."
Video: After Tuesday's practice: Will Butcher
Defenseman Will Butcher was also a full participant at practice. He's been out eight games with a lower-body injury. He will travel with the team for the upcoming three-game road trip, but his status for this week is still to be determined.
Victor Olofsson, however, did not practice and will not travel with the team to Montreal due to a non-COVID-related illness.
Faceoff on Wednesday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550 with pregame coverage on MSG starting at 7.
With Olofsson unavailable, the team has recalled forward Brandon Biro from the Rochester Americans.
Biro, 23, is third on the Amerks in scoring with 36 points (9+27) in 39 games. He has not gone consecutive games without a point since November 27.
While the production has been consistent, his hockey sense was also a big factor as to why he has earned the opportunity to possibly make his NHL debut this week.
"There's detail in his game right now beyond just skill. He's gained that maturity. To me, that's what's been impressive when I watch him," Granato said.
"With Brandon, he has a real good feel for the game and knowledge of the game and I'm excited when we do see him, whether that's tomorrow night or not. I'm excited when he do get him in the lineup."
Video: After Tuesday's Practice: Don Granato
The Sabres tried one brand-new line at practice. Granato put Dylan Cozens with Casey Mittelstadt and Peyton Krebs.
"I just looked at it and thought, 'Let's do this. Let's shift,'" Granato said.
"…Whether we do that in the game tomorrow or not, I don't know yet, because obviously we could put Biro in tomorrow. And we'll sort through it. But for practice it made complete sense and it's consistent with the theme of, these guys all have to play different positions and with everybody. And we need that, and we're going to keep evolving that as we move along."
| February 22 |
| --- |
| LW | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 72 Tage Thompson | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 19 Peyton Krebs | 24 Dylan Cozens | 37 Casey Mittelstadt |
| 74 Rasmus Asplund | 17 Mark Jankowski | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| 96 Anders Bjork | 20 Cody Eakin | 15 John Hayden |
| LD | RD | G |
| 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 10 Henri Jokiharju | 41 Craig Anderson |
| 23 Mattias Samuelsson | 45 Casey Fitzgerald | 31 Dustin Tokarski |
| 78 Jacob Bryson | 13 Mark Pysyk | |
| 8 Robert Hagg | 4 Will Butcher | |
