Storylines
1. Rosen's return
The Sabres on Monday recalled forward Isak Rosen from the Rochester Americans. The 21-year-old has seven goals in his last four games and ranks second in the AHL with 23 this season.
Ruff acknowledged that while call-ups typically play bottom-line minutes at first, Rosen's current hot streak and established chemistry with Jiri Kulich merit a first-line role.
"We’re gonna put him right up there with Kuli and JJ (Peterka), let him go," Ruff said. "There’s a great connection there between Kuli and him, and I’m looking forward to seeing that. A lot of times, given a bigger role, a guy can show more. So the plan is to try to give him a really good look.
"JJ and Kuli have really been going well. He’s really been going well down there. I’m excited to see him get this opportunity."
Rosen learned of Monday's promotion while participating in AHL All-Star festivities in Coachella Valley, Calif.
"Big honor," he said. "It was fun to be there for one day, but now I’m super happy to be here."
Tuesday will mark Rosen's ninth career NHL game and second this season; he skated 6:29 in the Nov. 23 win at San Jose. Kulich's recent success with the Sabres, Rosen says, inspires confidence that his skills, too, will translate to the NHL level.
"Just a great example to see – I played with him for two years – just to see how good he is and how good I think I am too," Rosen said. "I really believe I can transition here as well."
2. Scouting the Blue Jackets
Marchenko – who ranks first on the team with 21 goals and second with 55 points – joined a long list of Blue Jackets players on injured reserve when a shot into the Columbus bench left him with a broken jaw during Sunday’s loss in Dallas.
Columbus is also without top-line center Sean Monahan, captain Boone Jenner, forward Yegor Chinakov, and defenseman Erik Gudbranson, all of whom have missed varying amounts of time on IR. Defenseman Dante Fabbro also sustained an injury on Sunday.
Zach Werenski ranks second among NHL defensemen with 17 goals and third with 57 points but he, too, will miss the game with an injury.
The Blue Jackets have weathered the injuries to this point, entering Tuesday in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot with 59 points. They are 14-5-2 in 21 games since Dec. 19 and rank third in the NHL with 70 goals scored during that stretch.
Forward Kent Johnson enters Tuesday on a seven-game point streak, with three goals and five assists in that span.