Several members of the Buffalo Sabres have tested positive for COVID-19 and are being retested, putting their game against the Arizona Coyotes in jeopardy, according to a report by Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News on Saturday.
After testing positive for COVID-19, defencemen Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju, and forwards Rasmus Asplund and Victor Olofsson were held out of the morning skate ahead of the Sabres game against the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale. Assistant coaches Marty Wilford and Matt Ellis were subsequently pulled off ice during practice.
If all four players test positive again, the Sabres might not be able to ice a complete lineup for Saturday’s game against the Coyotes.
“We don’t have any way to bring in any other players in from out east today,” coach Tony Granato told the media before the game.
Further exacerbating this is news that goalie Aaron Dell has been placed on waivers. Dell, 32, was suspended three games for an elbow that sent Ottawa Senators top scorer Drake Batherson crashing into the boards and suffering a leg injury that will keep him out three to four months.
With Dell suspended, the Sabres could be in a bind for a goaltender: Season-opening No. 1 Craig Anderson and backup Dustin Tokarski are traveling with the team, but they have yet to be cleared to play, depth goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban are injured, and recent signee Michael Houser was placed in COVID protocol on Friday.
–with files from The Associated Press
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