Skinner, Borgen to sit out game vs. Islanders

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner and defenseman Will Borgen will not be in the lineup for the team's game against the New York Islanders on Monday, coach Ralph Krueger announced.
Borgen is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and has not been ruled out for the Sabres' game in New Jersey on Tuesday. Skinner will be a healthy scratch with Casey Mittelstadt taking his place at forward.
"In the end, decisions are for the team and for the group and for the chance to win," Krueger said. "I just think it's good for Jeff to take a look once from the outside and we've got coaches active with him, working together to have him come back an even stronger player for us."

Mittelstadt has appeared in two games this season, tallying one assist.
Borgen's absence comes in addition to that of fellow defenseman Jake McCabe, who will miss six to eight months with injuries in his right knee to his ACL, MCL and meniscus that occurred during the team's win over New Jersey on Sunday.
Brandon Davidson was recalled from the taxi squad to step in on the back end.
"It was pretty clear on the doctor's first assessment that we were dealing with a really serious setback," Krueger said of McCabe. "The confirmation just underlines the pain that we feel for the person, first and foremost, and then the player that we've lost for the season.
"It's an amazing setback in addition to what the group's gone through during COVID and he was part of the COVID package. … It's just another shot, but we have a group of character and everybody needs to step up and help to fill the big hole that Caber leaves with his injury."

Scouting the Islanders

New York ranks fourth in the NHL with an average of 2.35 allowed per game, the product of a defensive commitment that showed during two games in Buffalo last week.
The Sabres scored one goal in those two losses to the Islanders after falling behind early in both games.
"We need to get back in this series against the Islanders," Krueger said. "When you look at those two games, even (strength) scoring chances doesn't get you any points. So, we certainly matched them but they outscored us, they got all four points. Unacceptable.
"The key notes here today, it's looking for areas of opportunity offensively, ways that we can create more net pressure and just match the amazing patience they have and the way they play their game."
Semyon Varlamov will start in net for the Islanders. Forward Michael Dal Colle will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury.

Tune in

Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. or you can listen to the game on WGR 550. The puck drops at 7.