Sabres Preseason: First Look at McLeod, Zucker, Gilbert

For the second straight preseason game, the Buffalo Sabres plan on playing a lineup composed of essentially the NHL team. The Sabres face the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center at 5 p.m., a precursor to Monday Night Football in Buffalo. Out of the lineup come Alex Tuch, Jiri Kulich, Lukas Rousek, Jacob Bryson, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and James Reimer. In come Ryan McLeod, Jason Zucker, Jordan Greenway, Dennis Gilbert, Devon Levi, and Felix Sandstrom.

Where to Watch

Gametime: 5:00 p.m. ET

Location: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, NY)

TV: Unavailable

Stream: Sabres.com

Radio: WWKB 1520AM

Sabres Gameday

Devon Levi will get the start for Buffalo against the Blue Jackets. If Saturday was any indication, the plan is likely for him to play the full game. Levi has the initial edge on the backup job, which sounds like it will be more of a tandem than a traditional backup role unless performance dictates otherwise.

It will also be the first look at how Zucker, McLeod, and Greenway perform together against players outside the organization. They’re projected to be on a line together, as indicated by the combinations in training camp.

With Tuch not playing, it will be interesting to see who takes his spot on the top line with JJ Peterka and Tage Thompson. If the other lines remain the same from Saturday, then Peyton Krebs could shift to wing in a prime opportunity.

Otherwise, perhaps Sam Lafferty gets a chance on the wing and Krebs gets some run with Beck Malenstyn and Nicolas Aube-Kubel on the fourth line.

Related: How Sabres Line of Malenstyn, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel Compares Across NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets will ice a mix of NHLers and fringe players tonight, much like the Pittsburgh Penguins did on Saturday. Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Dmitri Voronkov, Mathieu Olivier, David Jiricek, Jack Johnson, and Jordan Harris highlight the Columbus lineup.

For the second straight game, the Sabres will face a goalie buried on the depth chart, with Jet Greaves and Evan Gardner making the trip for the Blue Jackets.

Sabres Preseason: 3 Takeaways from Sabres 1st Preseason Game Versus Penguins

Injury Report

Buffalo Sabres

• Rasmus Dahlin (Mid-Body) Day-to-day
• Viktor Neuchev (Upper Body) Day-to-day

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Unspecified

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

TBD

Columbus Blue Jackets

TBD