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Buffalo Sabres wrap up the preseason against the Islanders

ByRobert Berger|
TORONTO,ON - SEPTEMBER 21: Alexander Nylander #92 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on September 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ON - SEPTEMBER 21: Alexander Nylander #92 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on September 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Sabres 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres will play their last game of the preseason tonight when they face the New York Islanders in Oshawa, Ontario.

Tonight’s game will be at the Tribute Communities Centre, home of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. When the game was announced last December, there more former Generals expected to play in the Sabres-Islanders matchup.

The biggest absence of course is former Islanders captain John Tavares, who signed with the Toronto Maples Leafs in the offseason. Also missing from tonight’s game are Generals alumni Calvin de Haan, he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes, as well as prospects Michael Dal Colle and Mitchell Vande Sompel. Both Dal Colle and Vande Sompel have been assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.

The only Oshawa alumnus on the ice tonight will be Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck who played in Oshawa from 2004-07. For what it’s worth, the most notable Buffalo Sabre to play for the Generals is Dave Andreychuk, one of 7 hockey hall of fame members that spent time in Oshawa.

The Buffalo Sabres will bring a mixed group up to Oshawa to close out the preseason. Seven Sabres stayed behind in Buffalo: Jack Eichel, Johan Larsson, Conor Sheary, Zach Bogosian, Marco Scandella, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Brandon Hickey. Most of the skaters in this group are nursing minor injuries but the biggest concern is with Johan Larsson. Larsson took a shot to the foot in the game with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Larsson is day to day and is still questionable to be ready for opening night next Thursday.

Vladimir Sobotka will get a chance to skate with the top 6 forwards tonight as he fills in on the top line for Jack Eichel. He will be skating alongside Sam Reinhart and Jeff Skinner. Also in the lineup will be Alexander Nylander and Tage Thompson. Nylander and Thompson both have had impressive training camps and will be playing with Patrik Berglund tonight.

At this point of the preseason, it appears that Berglund will be starting the year on the second line as Casey Mittelstadt as stumbled. Mittelstadt will get one more chance to prove himself tonight as he skates with Kyle Okposo and Scott Wilson.

Tonight’s faceoff is schedule for 7:00 and can be heard on WGR 550. Next up for the Buffalo Sabres is opening night, next Thursday at the KeyBank Center.

What are you looking forward to seeing as we head into the final game of the preseason? Let us know in the comment section below.

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