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Nov. 16 – Sabres recall Kulich from Rochester, place Thompson on IR
The Sabres recalled forward Jiri Kulich from the Rochester Americans and placed forward Tage Thompson on injured reserve.
Thompson is day to day with a lower-body injury and has been ruled out for Saturday’s game in Philadelphia. He will be eligible to be return from injured reserve in time for the Sabres’ next game in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The Sabres could also be without forward Jordan Greenway on Saturday after he left Friday’s practice due to what coach Lindy Ruff described as a nagging injury.
Kulich, a first-round draft pick in 2022, opened the season with the Sabres and scored one goal in eight games. Ruff spoke highly of how the 20-year-old showed daily improvement in his play away from the puck.
“I do think his five-on-five play has been very good,” Ruff said earlier this month. “He’s determined, he’s been able to skate, he’s been able to defend well. Everybody says he’s a lot stronger this year than he was last year, so, yeah, he’s on the cusp of becoming the player everybody thinks he can be.”
Kulich had two goals and an assist in four games with Rochester after being assigned to the Amerks on Nov. 5. He led Rochester in goals each of the past two seasons.
Nov. 15 – Thompson, Luukkonen to miss game on Saturday
Tage Thompson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be out for the second straight game when the Sabres visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, coach Lindy Ruff announced.
Thompson (lower body) skated on his own Friday morning. Luukkonen participated in practice, but Ruff said the team will take another opportunity to rest the goaltender before returning him to game action.
“We just feel with where the schedule is why push him in when we have four or five more days before we play again,” Ruff said.
The Sabres could also be without forward Jordan Greenway against the Flyers. Greenway stepped on the ice for practice on Friday but left the session early due to what Ruff described as a nagging injury.
“A nagging ailment that he’s been playing through,” Ruff said. “So, today it bothered him enough that he had to leave the ice.”
