Former NHL goalie and current Florida Panthers executive Roberto Luongo caught wind of the Buffalo Sabres' needs between the pipes and jokingly insinuated that he could strap the pads back on.
Me when hearing the Buffalo Sabres have 0 healthy goalies at the moment pic.twitter.com/oNoPwzghmR
— Strombone (@strombone1) January 28, 2022
The Sabres are currently down their top six netminders after Michael Houser entered COVID-19 protocol Friday.
Here's a full list of the team's shelved goaltenders:
| Goalie | Status |
|---|---|
| Craig Anderson | Upper-body injury |
| Dustin Tokarski | COVID-19 list |
| Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | Lower-body injury |
| Malcolm Subban | Upper-body injury |
| Aaron Dell | Suspended |
| Michael Houser | COVID-19 list |
Buffalo is scheduled to play the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
Anderson and Tokarski were full participants in Friday's practice. However, Tokarski hasn't played since Nov. 29, and the team said he's been dealing with "COVID fog" issues, according to The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. There's a chance he could play in one of the two upcoming games.
"I think it's possible. But I don't know," Tokarski said. "It's a day-to-day thing. As everyone's been telling you, I wish we could give you more. But that's actually the honest truth with it. Because some days you feel something, some days you don't, and we're working together with the doctors and coaches and staff to make up a plan that is good for everyone, good for the team, good for myself, health-wise."
Anderson hasn't played since Nov. 2, but the team isn't intent on rushing the 40-year-old back until he's ready.
"The medical team will clear them to go when they feel that they're comfortable with what they've gone through from the component of injury and recovery," head coach Tony Granato said.
"And that's what this is all about: ramping it up. Because they haven't participated in much practice with the shots and the traffic and the physicality ... and they need that. They need that for their own peace of mind to say that, 'OK, I can handle a game right now.' And they just hadn't had much of that."
The Sabres have Mat Robson and Charles Williams in the AHL, although neither of them is on an NHL contract.
Buffalo's six goalies have combined for a .905 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average in 42 games this season.
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