Morning Skate | Sabres look to bounce back against Islanders

Ralph Krueger offered a glimpse of the new normal for the Sabres as they make lineup decisions in an attempt to best navigate an unprecedented stretch of 46 games in less than three months.
The Sabres coach began Tuesday, for example, weighing a variety of factors as the team prepared for the second of back-to-back games against the New York Islanders following a two-week layoff.
"We began the day with a discussion but on a level that I've never seen before as a head coach with players coming in from all over the place and trying to find that right mix, trying to read the energy of guys from yesterday," Krueger said. "Is everybody good to go back-to-back? Should we pull somebody out?"

Krueger said his lineup will be revealed during pregame warmups, but there are several options at play. Defensemen Jake McCabe and Brandon Montour are both available after returning from the COVID-related absence list. In their place, Will Borgen and Brandon Davidson made their season debuts for Buffalo on Monday.
The Sabres also have five men on their taxi squad at the moment: forwards Andrew Oglevie, Rasmus Asplund, and C.J. Smith, defenseman Jacob Bryson, and goaltender Jonas Johansson.
The other question will be in net, where the starter has become a daily evaluation. Linus Ullmark got the nod Monday, allowing three goals on 29 shots.
"Our goalie being in the right frame of mind and having the energy for the job is one of the fundamental foundations of our division to be successful," Krueger said. "So, we need to read that really well along with all the other complexities within the roster that come at us every day here."

Scouting the Islanders

New York played to its suffocating reputation on Monday, staving off an early push by Buffalo with help from goaltender Semyon Varlamov before clamping down and holding the Sabres without a shot on goal during the third period.
The Islanders' top offensive threats are less heralded but have been no less consistent of late. Mathew Barzal tallied an assist on the opening goal Monday to extend his point streak to nine games while Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the third straight contest.
"They're a few years into a very consistent program where they have a group that is a hundred percent bought into what they do and they are as automated and as much of a machine in a positive way as any team in the National Hockey League right now," Krueger said.
"I respect the game that they're playing. It's a very high level of execution with minimal errors or mistakes. They give you almost nothing on a consistent basis and play extremely patient."
The Islanders will be bolstered by the addition of forward Anthony Beauvillier, who returns from a nine-game absence caused by a lower-body injury. Beauvillier had a career-high 39 points in 68 games last season.

Tune in

Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 7. You can also listen to the game on WGR 550.