Dahlin, Thompson Set for Preseason Debuts Against Columbus

Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and the rest of Buffalo's regulars are expected to make their preseason debuts Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center.

With the preseason shortened, the Sabres skipped the usual practice of mixing prospects into the veterans' first look. Monday's opener in Pittsburgh was the prospect-heavy night, and it ended in a 4-1 loss to the Penguins. Tuesday's group should closely resemble what Buffalo uses in Columbus when the regular season opens Oct. 1.

The forwards are Zach Benson, Sam Carrick, Josh Doan, Konsta Helenius, Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich, Beck Malenstyn, Ryan McLeod, Josh Norris, Noah Ostlund, Jack Quinn and Thompson. The defensemen are Louis Crevier, Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Conor Timmins and Olen Zellweger.

The game provides a first public look at Buffalo's two offseason additions on the blue line. Zellweger has opened camp alongside Power, filling the spot Bowen Byram vacated, and his speed and offensive instincts showed in Saturday's Blue and Gold Scrimmage. Crevier, the 6-foot-8 defenseman, has been a full participant in camp after offseason shoulder surgery and has been paired with Timmins.

Kulich is the lone holdover from Monday's lineup. The new collective bargaining agreement limits players with at least 100 career NHL games to two preseason appearances. Kulich, 22, has played 75 NHL games, so the rule does not apply to him. Buffalo is giving him additional work after he missed most of last season because of a blood clot. He led Sabres forwards with 19:39 of ice time Monday and recorded six shot attempts.

The Benson, Ostlund and Quinn line, Buffalo's best trio in Saturday's scrimmage, also gets its first test against outside competition.