The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon and have to turn around and travel to Washington to face the Capitals. They will do it without Andrej Sekera who was injured late in the game against Ottawa. That means the debut of 2010 first round pick Mark Pysyk, who will be wearing number 53.
Pysyk has spent all of this season with the Rochester Americans playing in 57 games and recording four goals and 14 assists. He is also a team high +8, even after finishing a -3 in the 6-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies yesterday.
Other than Pysyk coming into the lineup, there will be no other lineup changes. That means that Patrick Kaleta, who is eligible to return to the lineup after serving a five game suspension, will be a healthy scratch. That isn’t sitting well with him either according to the Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington.
“I’m pissed off. I want to play,” Kaleta said. “And especially after watching some things, sitting there watching the game, I want to play. … I guess they don’t need me right now I guess. I’ve been pissed off watching for the past couple weeks. No matter if you’re a fan, a player, you guys know what’s going on. You should be pissed off. You should play with a little piss and vinegar. You shouldn’t be happy. We’re not in position we want to be in. We have to work harder, come in and do something about it.”
Game time is 7:00 pm and can be seen on MSG NBC Sports Network.