BUFFALO -- After missing the past two games, Ryan Miller will be back in goal Thursday for the Buffalo Sabres when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets. Miller had sat out with a lower-body injury.
That won't be the only change in Buffalo's lineup, as a pair of rookies will be changing places. Forward Johan Larsson will start on the third line in place of Mikhail Grigorenko. Larsson said he's ready to go after being a healthy scratch Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I just have to go out there and play my game and do the hard work and do the small details good and then we'll see from there," he said.
Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Larsson will have some challenges against better competition, but he likes the makeup of the 21-year-old.
"I like his competitive nature and what he brings," Rolston said. "He'll battle. He's a smart player. He's in good position all the time, so I think he'll continue to make those adjustments."
Rolston said Grigorenko has to pick up his pace if he wants to get back in the lineup.
"Right now he needs to pick up his urgency in his game," he said. "There hasn't been a lot of urgency to it. At times there has been, but not consistent enough."
As for the Blue Jackets, they'll have rugged forward Jared Boll back in the lineup. He said he's anxious to return, and will be on a line with Mark Letestu and Derek MacKenzie.
"I'm used to playing with those guys and we know each other pretty well, so I'm excited," he said. "I'm just really excited to get back into the lineup."
Columbus coach Todd Richards said Boll's return isn't just about him adding a physical element to the team.
"I think everyone knows about the toughness side of it and what he brings, but to me he gives everyone else confidence on the bench," he said. "As I said to our radio guy, the big brother is kind of back. He knows his job, he knows his role. … He allows guys to go out there and play a bit more freely."
Here are the lineups each team likely will use Thursday:
SABRES
Steve Ott - Cody Hodgson - Thomas Vanek
Marcus Foligno - Tyler Ennis - Drew Stafford
Brian Flynn - Johan Larsson - Zemgus Girgensons
Cody McCormick - Kevin Porter - Patrick Kaleta
Christian Ehrhoff - Mark Pysyk
Jamie McBain - Rasmus Ristolainen
Scratched: Alexander Sulzer, Mikhail Grigorenko
Injured: Henrik Tallinder (upper body), Ville Leino (rib)
BLUE JACKETS
Cam Atkinson - Brandon Dubinsky - Marian Gaborik
Nick Foligno - Ryan Johansen - R.J. Umberger
Matt Calvert - Artem Anisimov - Blake Comeau
Mark Letestu - Derek MacKenzie - Jared Boll
Ryan Murray - James Wisniewski
Scratched: Boone Jenner, Tim Erixon
Injured: Fedor Tyutin (lower body)