Sharpen Up: December 5, 2016

Another day, another injury on the blue line it seems. Taylor Fedun did not practice with the team yesterday before they flew out to Washington, and today, the Sabres have called up Erik Burgdoerfer from the Rochester Americans.
Could Burgdoerfer make his NHL debut tonight?
Here's what you need to know.

Burgdoerfer played in four preseason games for the Sabres this year - the first four NHL games of his career. He'll join the Sabres for the first time after signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 21. In 22 games for the Amerks this season, he has seven assists and 24 penalty minutes.

Fedun, who was injured during the third period of Saturday's game against Boston, is the fourth defenseman on the shelf. Buffalo is already without defensemen Dmitry Kulikov, Zach Bogosian and Josh Gorges due to injury.
Kulikov practiced with the team for the first time yesterday. He's been out since Nov. 9 with a lower-body injury that he first sustained in the season opener. He did not travel to D.C. and is considered day to day. It's possible he could return to the lineup as early as Friday.
More on that can be found in yesterday's Ice Level Practice Report.

Gorges will be out weeks with a foot injury, which prompted Buffalo to call Brendan Guhle up from the junior ranks on an emergency basis.
It will be interesting to see how coach Dan Bylsma manages the minutes on the back end. Rasmus Ristolainen finished with a game-high 29:09 of ice time on Saturday and his new partner Jake McCabe was right behind him at 23:58.

Guhle, in his NHL debut, skated 16:20 and registered four shots on goal (with another three attempts blocked) and a plus-1 rating.
Fedun had become a staple of the second power-play unit as well so expect some tweaks to the man advantage, which currently ranks seventh in the NHL at 22.5 percent, as well.

On tap today

To see how these injuries impact the lineup, stay tuned for morning skate coverage from D.C. Jourdon LaBarber will have your Morning Skate Report and Brian Duff will have your Game Preview in video form.
Then stick with us for the TOPS Game Night pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m. on MSG. Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray have the call and Duffer will also be joined by Brad May to break down the game. You can also listen live on WGR 550.
It's Monday, so that means the Sabres Prospects Report will be coming your way as well.

has all of the updates on the players developing in the system.
In the meantime, how's this for an update? Alex Nylander and Rasmus Asplund have been named to Sweden's preliminary roster for the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.

And don't forget, Buffalo is in action again tomorrow night when the Edmonton Oilers come to town. Don't miss your chance to be at KeyBank Center. Individual Tickets and Family Packs are on sale now.