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Evan Rodrigues was credited with centering the Sabres' most consistent line early this season, when he spent the first seven games skating alongside Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville. Phil Housley broke the trio up in Los Angeles in an effort to balance the lineup.
Pominville has since become a part of Buffalo's most productive line, scoring points in six straight games alongside Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel. Girgensons has found a home on a checking line playing with Patrik Berglund and Johan Larsson.
Rodrigues, though, has been a healthy scratch for the last three contests. He left the team prior to their game in Columbus last Saturday to be with his wife while she gave birth to their first son and has been waiting his turn to get back in the lineup since.

If practice on Friday is any indication, that chance could come when the Sabres host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon. Rodrigues skated on a line with Vladimir Sobotka and Kyle Okposo, and Housley said he'd like to see the forward pick up where he left off.
"I just think the way he played before he got out, I thought he was playing really good hockey," Housley said. "He had the birth of his child and we gave him some time to regroup, but I think when he's at his best, he's skating and he's making plays.
"… He's got all the intangibles, being tough to play against. I like to see him go to the net hard. When he does that, he creates offense for us and he makes it difficult for the goalie. He's just got to get back to where he was before he got out of the lineup."
Rodrigues will look to help jump start an offense looking for more even-strength production outside of its top line. Though he went without a goal in his first 10 games, he felt he was putting himself in position to contribute.
"Just continue to play with speed, continue to play with pace, and focus on winning my one-on-one battles and I think things will come naturally," he said.
The Sabres provided a template for success during the third period of their loss in Ottawa on Thursday, when they outshot the Senators 23-7 and came within a goal of erasing a 3-0 deficit. Both goals came on tips in front of the net, which Housley said should be a lesson for the forwards.
"I think you look at where we're scoring our goals, you look at two of the goals we scored last night. They're right in front of the net," Housley said. "I think that's one thing they can learn. It might not be pretty, it might just be going to the net. It might hit you, it might go off a shin pad, you might get a second opportunity.
"But I think we didn't do a very good job against Calgary in that area and, for the most part, I think in the first period [in Ottawa] we didn't go a good job getting to the net. Once we made a decision, we played the right way."

Thompson continuing to develop

Tage Thompson won't play on Saturday, but Housley said another chance is coming in the near future for the 20-year-old forward. He's been in and out of the lineup so far this season and was a healthy scratch in Ottawa.
Housley said the team has decided to continue his development in Buffalo instead of sending him to Rochester with the purpose of getting him more game action soon.
"We continue to develop his game, whether it's after practice or video, that's one way to develop," Housley said. "I understand playing is the most important. He's going to get an opportunity here. He's not going to get an opportunity tomorrow, but he'll get an opportunity at some point in the near future."
When he does return, Housley said he'd like to see Thompson use his 6-foot-6 frame at the net-front.
"I think he should own that lane going to the net. It's not only, you get into the offensive zone and there's some cycling and there's different people getting around the net, but when it's your chance, your opportunity to get to the net as the low forward, you've got to find a way.
"You've got to spin off people, you've got to have a direct line to the net, and I think Tage is really good at that. He's a big body that can make it tough on the goaltender."

Sabres to honor Pominville Saturday

The Sabres will recognize Jason Pominville for playing his 1,000th game prior to their game at KeyBank Center on Saturday. Pominville achieved the milestone with his family in attendance in Ottawa on Thursday, becoming the 328th player to accomplish the feat and the 11th to do it in a Sabres uniform.

Ottawa recognizes Pominville's 1,000th game

The first 12,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a commemorative "Welcome to Pominville" sign. A pregame ceremony will be held prior to the 2 p.m. puck drop.
Tickets and more information are available here.

Friday's practice

Zach Bogosian took a maintenance day after skating 19:35 in Ottawa, but the defenseman is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday. Here's how the Sabres lined up in his absence:
53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 23 Sam Reinhart
71 Evan Rodrigues - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 21 Kyle Okposo
10 Patrik Berglund - 22 Johan Larsson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
6 Marco Scandella - 26 Rasmus Dahlin
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 8 Casey Nelson
81 Remi Elie - 72 Tage Thompson\
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark
\Extra forwards skating on defense