Buffalo Sabres News

After starting 23 consecutive games, Karel Vejmelka will finally have a break on Monday as Villalta will be between the pipes for Utah against the Nashville Predators. Villalta only has two games of NHL experience and has yet to play this season. The 25-year-old goalie has a 3.01 GAA and .906 SV% in 41 games (17-21-3) with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) this season. Utah enters Monday's contest as -160 road favorites against a Nashville team that has lost seven of their last nine games (2-7-0).

Crevier did not play Chicago's previous game, but he will re-enter the lineup on Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 23-year-old Crevier is averaging 17:25 time-on-ice and has four points (3G / 1A) in 31 games this season.

Lyon will get the call for the tail-end of Detroit's back-to-back on Friday night in Tampa. Lyon hasn't played since March 27th when he was pulled after allowing three goals on ten shots in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Senators. The 32-year-old netminder owns a 12-9-1 record and an .896 SV% on the season. Lyon will have to be at his absolute best on Friday, as the Red Wings enter action as sizable underdogs at +240 on the money line.

Connor Murphy (illness) will not play on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, allowing Crevier to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Crevier is averaging 17:30 time-on-ice and has four points (3G / 1A) in 30 games this season.

The Sharks have lost six straight (0-5-1) and will turn to Georgiev between the pipes on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. Georgiev had a forgettable performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 11 shots (.636 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.69 GAA and .873 SV% in 46 appearances this season (15-25-2). The Sharks enter Wednesday's contest as significant +275 road underdogs against a Wild team expected to welcome Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back into their lineup.

The Sharks have lost six straight (0-5-1) and will likely turn to Georgiev between the pipes on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. Georgiev had a forgettable performance in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 11 shots (.636 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.69 GAA and .873 SV% in 46 appearances this season (15-25-2). The Sharks enter Wednesday's contest as significant +275 road underdogs against a Wild team expected to welcome Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back into their lineup.

Georgiev missed Thursday's game vs. the Oilers due to an upper-body injury, but was on the ice for Friday's practice and hopes to play on Saturday. Georgiev enters the weekend a 3-2-1 with a 3.64 GAA and .883 SV% over his last six games.

Kozak has been a regular in Buffalo's lineup the past couple weeks but will be sidelined, possible for the remainder of the season, due to a hip strain. The 22-year-old forward has five points (3G / 2A) through 21 games in his rookie season.

Ostlund was the 16th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward has been enjoying a productive campaign in the AHL, scoring 36 points (19G / 17A) in 44 games with the Rochester Americans.

The Sharks have recalled Gabriel Carriere from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) to serve as Georgi Romanov's backup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers since Georgiev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 29-year-old Georgiev has a 3.64 GAA and .876 SV% in 45 appearances this season (15-24-2).

The Sharks have been outscored 14-2 in their last two games (0-2-0) and will turn to Georgiev between the pipes on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old Georgiev allowed six goals on 33 shots in his most recent outing (.818 SV%). He has a 3.66 GAA and .874 SV% in 44 games this season. The Sharks enter the action on Tuesday as +170 road underdogs against a Ducks team that has won four of their last six (4-2-0).