Levi, Benson considered day to day with lower-body injuries

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi and forward Zach Benson did not practice Friday and are both considered day to day with lower-body injuries, the team announced.  

Levi has started all four of Buffalo’s games this season, including a 32-save performance against Calgary on Thursday. Benson has also appeared in all four games and has two assists after making the opening night roster on the strength of a productive preseason.

The Sabres open a stretch of three games in four nights at home against the New York Islanders on Saturday. 

Here are more notes from Friday’s practice at LECOM Harborcenter.

1. The Sabres shuffled their forward lines for the session. Casey Mittelstadt centered Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch while Dylan Cozens moved to the wing alongside Jordan Greenway and Tage Thompson.

Here’s how the group lined up in its entirety:

2. Mittelstadt centered Skinner and Tuch after Thompson sustained an injury late last season. The Sabres outscored opponents 11-4 with the trio sharing the ice at 5-on-5.

3. Cozens addressed the team’s mentality following a 4-3 loss to the Flames on Thursday, which dropped their record to 1-3-0.

“I think we haven’t even come close to how good we can play and we’ve been in pretty much every game,” Cozens said. “That’s a positive way to look at things and know that once we get to our game and play the way we know we can play that we’re going to be a really good team in this league.

“And we know we’re going to be a really good team in this league. We just can’t get frustrated, can’t get too down on ourselves, and just got to look ahead to the next day.”

4. The Sabres practiced in black and red gear in preparation for Saturday, when they’ll wear their black alternate jerseys for the first time this season. The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative rally towel.

Secure your seats for the game here.

5. Coverage on Saturday begins at 6:30 p.m. on MSG. The puck drops at 7 on MSG and WGR 550.