Buffalo Sabres goalie Aaron Dell has been suspended three games for his hit on Drake Batherson.
The Buffalo Sabres received more bad news regarding their netminders on Wednesday. Goalie Aaron Dell, starting in the net for the injured Craig Anderson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, has received a three-game ban for his high-shoulder body check on Batherson during a 5-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
The hit caused Batherson to fall feet-first into the boards, resulting in an ankle injury that will cause the Senators forward to miss the All-Star Game on February 5th. Video replay shows that Dell initiated contact while Batherson attempted to skate around him in pursuit of the puck on the forecheck.
Buffalo Sabres goalie suspended for three games
Dell’s suspension will cause further chaos among the Sabres’ netminders. Other goalies currently out include Anderson, Luukkonen, and Dustin Tokarski. The Sabres acquired Malcolm Subban earlier in December, but he will miss the rest of the season following surgery to repair an upper body injury.
Anderson hopes to return by the All-Star break, and the Sabres cannot welcome him back soon enough. However, Michael Houser will most likely take over duties in the net on January 29th when the Sabres fly into Arizona to face the Coyotes.
Houser has put together two solid starts since returning to the Sabres on a two-way deal, posting a 2-0 record with a solid .948 save percentage. The Coyotes boast one of the league’s worst scoring units at just 2.24 goals per game, which sits .22 goals below Houser’s goals allowed average in his limited playing time.
Overall, for a team that has struggled to keep its players on the ice this season, Dell‘s suspension is bad news for the Sabres despite his own struggles. But it also gives Houser another opportunity to maintain his hot streak in the net.
Update: The Buffalo Sabres placed Michael Houser to the COVID list on January 28th.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)