The Buffalo Sabres could get a timely boost against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, with Jason Zucker targeted to return and Rasmus Dahlin also in line to be back in the mix at KeyBank Center. For a team trying to steady its season, the possible return of two important pieces matters.
Lindy Ruff said Tuesday night was the target for Zucker, while Dahlin remained a possibility after missing three games with a lower body injury. Dahlin left early in the second period against the Florida Panthers last Monday, then watched from the sideline as Buffalo survived without him and went 1-0-2 over those three games.
Dahlin's return would change the feel of the blue line
Rasmus Dahlin told the media after Monday's practice that his goal was to be in the lineup, and that is exactly the kind of update the Sabres wanted heading into a meeting with the Flyers. He is the player Buffalo can build around, and even a limited return would give the team a different look in all three zones.
The concern for Buffalo was never simply the result of one injury. It was the timing. Dahlin had already been out for three games, and the Sabres still had to keep finding a way to compete without one of their most important defenders. That they came through that stretch at 1-0-2 says something about their resilience, but it also underlines why Dahlin matters so much when he is available.
Zucker target return gives Buffalo another option
Zucker's situation is different, but just as notable. He has missed the entire season to date after offseason hernia surgery, so any chance of bringing him back on Tuesday night would be significant for Buffalo's forward group. The Sabres would not be expecting him to carry everything immediately, but simply having him available would add another layer to the lineup.
There is no need to overstate the point. Buffalo have had to make do without Zucker for the whole season, and without Dahlin for the last three games. If both are ready, even in different ways, the Sabres would be closer to the kind of lineup balance they have been missing.
What comes next for Buffalo
The immediate question is straightforward: which Sabres players are in line to return against the Flyers? The answer is Dahlin and Zucker, with Tuesday night offering the chance to reinforce a roster that has had to patch holes for too long. Against Philadelphia, Buffalo will be hoping those updates turn into actual lineup news rather than just pregame optimism.
There is also the wider picture around the league, with talk continuing around Connor Hellebuyck and a situation involving the Winnipeg Jets and Kevin Cheveldayoff that has been looming since draft night in June. But for Buffalo, the focus is much more immediate. If Dahlin and Zucker can go, the Sabres will finally have the chance to reset part of their structure at exactly the right time.
