Matt Moulson Returns As Former Team Comes To Town

The Buffalo Sabres are back! After a few day break due to the holiday, the Sabres had some time to restock their locker room and to relax. Starting with the return of Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick and Mike Weber.

Given that they couldn’t keep hold of a 3-1 second period lead and gave Detroit five goals, the Sabres could use all the extra bodies it could use. Losers of four straight and allowing 20 goals in that skid, Buffalo is trying to regain its feet.

Dec 11, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing

Matt Moulson

(26) during the game against the Calgary Flames at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, it still wasn’t everything the team needed, as many players still remain on the sideline, still feeling the effects of sickness or injury. Still, the Sabres have their sights set on the New York Islanders, who come into town tonight.

A big surprise in the Islanders this season, who hold the Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick that came with the Thomas Vanek and Matt Moulson trade. After deferring the pick to the upcoming 2015 draft, Buffalo’s wish of having a usual team in the Islanders is a wish that even Santa couldn’t deliver. Winners of 23 of their first 34 games. With hopes of a potential first five pick, those dreams are slowly diminishing with the surge of this Islanders team.

Standing in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 23-11-0 record, the New York Islanders are showing that being closer to the bottom of the league for a few years can have some good effects. With players like John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Brock Nelson leading the way, the Islanders are becoming a team that can do great things.

With a long list of inactive players, Ted Nolan and Tim Murray now look towards the AHL to fill a roster spot. A fourth-line position has been left blank, so we will see Mikhail Grigorenko get the call for tonights game.

Matt Moulson gets the green light tonight against his former team. After being kept out of action for the past three games with the flu, Moulson says he is feeling better and is ready to go. He will be lined up in the top line along with Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons.

Also coming back from the injury/illness list have Cody McCormick, who will take third-line reps between Patrick Kaleta and Johan Larsson, and Mike Weber coming back into action, being paired with Andre Benoit. Both players missed six games coming into tonight.

More news coming out of the depleted roster, Marcus Foligno has gone through surgery a few days ago, on what we can assume to be his hand, putting him out of the lineup for at least a month or two, according to Nolan. Brian Gionta will also miss a bit more time, Tyson Strachan is “pretty close” to returning and Tyler Myers will remain “week-to-week” said Nolan.

Jhonas Enroth gets the go in net after sitting the game against Detroit, giving Michal Neuvirth the start in the 6-3 loss on the 23rd. The Islanders placed former-Sabre-for-five-days Jaroslav Halak on injured reserve, and will call up their AHL Bridgeport Tigers netminder Kevin Poulin. Poulin will get the nod to start in net.

For now, as Ted Nolan said, “Adversity makes us stronger.” Let’s hope that the team is as pumped up as Aaron Rodgers in that State Farm commercial after this skid.

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