The Detroit Red Wings hope to snap a 4-game winless streak (0-3-and-1) against the Buffalo Sabres this evening (7 PM EDT start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG-B/97.1 FM), but the Sabres have a very good record against the Wings of late.
Buffalo took to the ice for its morning skate at the KeyBank Center having recalled goaltender Aaron Dell from the Rochester Americans, which probably means that Dustin Tokarski will start vs. the Wings, per NHL.com’s Heather Graham:
Sabres’ morning skate in session. No Olofsson or Craig Anderson. Goalies on the ice are Dustin Tokarski and Aaron Dell, who was called up from Rochester this morning. pic.twitter.com/vgcBag6teq— Heather Engel (@engelheather) November 6, 2021
The Buffalo News’s Lance Lysowski checked in…
Dustin Tokarski and Aaron Dell are the Sabres goalies on the ice for the morning skate. Craig Anderson is absent.
We’ll ask Granato about Anderson’s status following the morning skate.— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) November 6, 2021
Sabres’ lines/pairings at the morning skate are unchanged:
Caggiula-Cozens-Hinostroza
Skinner-Thompson-Asplund
Girgensons-Eakin-Okposo
Bjork-Ruotsalainen-Hayden
Dahlin-Butcher
Bryson-Miller
Hagg-Pysyk
Wolanin rotating in
Dell and Tokarski are the goalies.— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) November 6, 2021
Still no Olofsson or Mittelstadt. And yes, I’m also shocked there were no changes to the defense pairs.— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) November 6, 2021
As did BuffaloSabres.com’s Jourdon LaBarber:
Good morning from KeyBank Center. Sabres host the Red Wings here tonight at 7.
Dustin Tokarski & Aaron Dell are the goaltenders on the ice this morning.#LetsGoBuffalo— Jourdon LaBarber (@JourdonLaBarber) November 6, 2021
Buffalo Hockey Beat’s Bill Hoppe checked in as well:
Aaron Dell on the ice this morning. Craig Anderson is absent. pic.twitter.com/Ycx2E5MKfZ— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) November 6, 2021
DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter also posted a Red Wings-Sabres preview:
Buffalo comes into its first matchup against the Red Wings at 5-4-1 (11 points) this season and is in a similar situation as Detroit. The Sabres are mired in a three-game losing streak and recently wrapped up a four-game road trip of their own, returning home Saturday for the first time since Oct. 25.
The Sabres also suffered a tough loss on Thursday night, falling to the Seattle Kraken, 5-2, after trading away former second overall pick Jack Eichel in exchange for forwards Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs and two draft picks.
Buffalo is led offensively by winger Victor Olafsson, who comes into Saturday’s game with nine points (5-4-9) in eight games. The Sabres boast a balanced offensive attack, featuring 10 players with at least five points in their first 10 games.
In goal, Buffalo has been platooning 40-year-old netminder Craig Anderson, who joined the Sabres this past offseason, with 32-year-old Dustin Tokarski. Anderson has seen a majority of the work between the pipes this season, with a 4-2-0 record in six starts, while Tokarski sports a 1-2-1 record in four appearances.
The Sabres did their post-morning skate presser thing…
Alex Tuch is here.
Excited to be in Buffalo, to say the least. Reciting the Sabres players from the past that he loved watching. pic.twitter.com/QgVIixsWSF— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) November 6, 2021
Alex Tuch with a big smile talking about his excitement of being in Buffalo and growing up a Sabres fan. pic.twitter.com/yBqbYROzKK— Heather Engel (@engelheather) November 6, 2021
Alex Tuch is, shall we say, REALLY excited to join the #Sabres. pic.twitter.com/wlE3tgf6hK— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) November 6, 2021
Alex Tuch just addressed the media for the first time since becoming a Sabre. He rattled off the 2005-06 roster mid-answer. #LetsGoBuffalo— Jourdon LaBarber (@JourdonLaBarber) November 6, 2021
I’ll tweet out some Tuch quotes after Granato talks. Would recommend watching the entire interview though.
Had a lot to say about his love for the Sabres, his favorite memory in KeyBank Center and the opportunity he has in Buffalo.— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) November 6, 2021
Ken Kal checked in at 11:32 AM:
Tonight’s Rosters vs Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/K25o6UnUPJ— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) November 6, 2021
As did the Free Press’s Helene St. James…
No update on Red Wings C Dylan Larkin, but Jeff Blashill says Larkin is still on active 23-man roster.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) November 6, 2021
No Larkin tonight. Blashill says he has spoken to him, would not go much deeper than that. Larkin is on the 23-man roster. Team does not pay attention to the social media speculation on what might be the matter with Larkin. #RedWings— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) November 6, 2021
(i.e. the Wings took an optional morning skate, and Larkin’s leave of absence is not NHLPA-related)…
Meanwhile…
Craig Anderson is day-to-day w/an upper-body injury, per Don Granato. Brett Murray was sent down to create room for Aaron Dell. #Sabres— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) November 6, 2021
Don Granato says Craig Anderson is day to day with an upper-body injury, he’s still being evaluated.
Casey Mittelstadt is progressing, has been skating, no timetable.
Olofsson out tonight as a precaution but progress encouraging, potentially good to go within next few days.— Heather Engel (@engelheather) November 6, 2021
Don Granato is undecided on the #Sabres‘ starting goalie.— Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) November 6, 2021
