The Buffalo Sabres are welcoming back Jason Zucker and Rasmus Dahlin on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. For Dahlin, he has missed the last three games after suffering an injury against the Florida Panthers.
While Dahlin has been hurt, the Sabres didn't move him to injured reserve so they didn't have to create a roster spot for their captain. However, that isn't the case for Zucker who has yet to play in a game this season after offseason surgery.
The Sabres were able to create a roster spot for Zucker to return after announcing they placed Sam Carrick on injured reserve with a middle-body injury.
Carrick is in his first full season with the Sabres after they traded for him at last season's NHL Trade Deadline. The veteran center was a great addition to the fourth line prior to suffering an injury towards the end of the regular season and before the playoffs.
However, Carrick has not been able to have the same impact this season and in fact has had trouble just staying in the lineup. He has appeared in only four games this season with no points and a faceoff percentage of only 47.1%. Notable decreases from last season, when he had six points in 13 regular-season games and a faceoff win percentage just over 10 points higher (57.3%).
Buffalo Sabres need Jason Zucker to help jumpstart their bottom-six
Even prior to the injury, it didn't seem like Carrick was expected to be in the lineup based on practice lines. During Tuesday's practice, the Sabres' fourth line consisted of Peyton Krebs, Ryan McLeod and Beck Malenstyn. Meanwhile, Zucker was on a line with Josh Norris and Konsta Helenius.
The Sabres are certainly hoping that the return of Zucker can help not only the power play but also the production of the bottom six. The current six players across the two lines are combined for only four goals and 13 points.
The return of Zucker, who had 24 goals last season, certainly could help, but he can't be expected to do it by himself. The Sabres have needed more from Norris, Helenius, and Krebs, and this would be a great place to start against a Flyers team that has been in the middle of the league in goals allowed at 3.18.
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