Bring out the old (Kevin Weekes) and ring in the new (Ryan Callahan) against the Sabres.
OK, Weekes isn't exactly a creaky senior citizen, but certainly older than Henrik Lundqvist, who will apparently get a breather before the late-afternoon Sunday tilt against the Islanders. And Callahan, 21, a Rochester native called up from Hartford earlier this week, presumably will see his first NHL action rather than Thomas Pock, the underused defenseman who was a forward in college.
Callahan's debut comes as a result of Jason Ward's reinjured ankle, which makes him doubtful for tonight.
The Ward issue caused a ripple effect. Adam Hall, who scored twice from in front on the the power-play against the Thrashers, moved to the right side of the Matt Cullen-Brendan Shanahan line in practice (and where he played a bit against the Thrashers.
If the rest of the scenario holds, Petr Prucha would slide down and join to the Blair Betts-Marcel Hossa tandem.
The 5-10 Callahan, who was 15-6-21 in 19 AHL games, would be on the right of Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr. Unfortunately, that fourth line probably won't get more than a few shifts.
What's not to like about a little tweaking?
Of course, I'd have gone a step further and played Pock on D to give Ozolinsh a rest. But it should make for some intriguing viewing on MSG2 at 8 p.m. tomorrah. That is, for those of you who won't be joining yours truly and the travelling press corps in Buffalo....
I'll be ready for the City of Ice and Spice (the wings, of course). With Newsday's Adam Ronis backing me up at practice today and filing a piece for the paper, I left early to get a flu shot. My first ever.
Let's hope my left wing doesn't swell or it'll have some ice on it---regardless of the weather.
Nonetheless, please circle back here tomorrow afternoon for a report on the game-day skate at HSBC. The right arm's fine.