The Sabres will have defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Josh Gorges back in the lineup from injuries against the Capitals. Kulikov missed 13 games with a lower-back injury; he was injured during the preseason and re-aggravated it Nov. 9 against the Ottawa Senators. "It's hard to watch games on TV when you know you want to be out there playing," Kulikov said. "Mentally, I think, is the hardest part to stay focused on the rehab and not to rush it." Gorges sustained a non-displaced fracture in his foot against the New York Rangers on Dec. 1 and missed the past three games. "I would've thought there would've been more pain involved but for some reason there isn't," Gorges said. "I think where it happened, when it's in my skate it's secure and acts as a boat holding everything in place so I think that helps. But yeah, I was surprised there wasn't a little more to it." With Kulikov and Gorges back, coach Dan Bylsma said defenseman Brendan Guhle would have to return to Prince George of the Western Hockey League because he was on an emergency recall. "He's a 19-year-old kid," Bylsma said. "You know there's going to be some ups and downs in his game over the course of his career. He did a pretty remarkable job of stepping in a tough situation, a tough spot, and showing he could play and contribute." Goaltender Robin Lehner will start.
