Buffalo Sabers forward Jiri Kulich will miss a significant amount of time due to a blood clot, according to head coach Lindy Ruff’s announcement after Monday’s practice. Kulich last suited up for the Sabers in their shootout win against the Washington Capitals. said Roef”It has to do with a blood clot found. I’m not going to go into further detail, but it is quite serious.” For now, Ruff could not provide a time frame for Kulich’s return and said his progress will depend on how things play out in three to four weeks.
Sabers add another injury to a growing list
This season, Kulich has skated in 12 games, scoring five points (three goals and two assists). Ruff also provided updates on Zach Benson and Jason Zucker, both of whom did not practice Monday. It is unlikely that Zucker, who missed the last two games, will return for the remainder of Buffalo’s four-game stint. He is currently struggling with a flu-like viral illness. Benson, on the other hand, has made progress on his lower-body injury but is not yet ready to join the team for practice. According to Ruff, the team was still deciding whether to bring him on the road or not.
How will these absences impact the Sabres??
At the time of writing, the Sabers are ranked 23rd in conversion rate on the man advantage. A likely factor in the disappointing production of the power play is the absence of two of the pieces, namely Benson and Zucker. With the line of Benson-Zucker-Doan-Thompson on the power play, Buffalo has scored five goals while not allowing any shorthanded goals from its opponents this season. Meanwhile, Thompson is currently without his two most prominent linemates, Benson and Kulich.
Jiri Kulich, Buffalo Sabers (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn images)
Teams show their true identity when faced with adversity. With three games remaining in their four-game stretch and with their captain, Rasmus Dahlin, gone for the time being, the Sabres’ lines will be tested as they still look for their first win as a visiting team this season. Only time will tell if this team has the resilience to break its fourteen-year drought, or if Groundhog Day will continue in Buffalo, where injuries will cost them a trip to the postseason this time around.
