BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -Sabres forward Dainius Zubrus missed Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against Ottawa on Saturday because of a lower body injury.
Zubrus was replaced by rookie forward Drew Stafford, who played for the first time since Game 4 of Buffalo’s second-round series win over the New York Rangers. Zubrus has been nursing the injury since Game 1 against Ottawa, and played just four minutes in a 3-2 win in Game 4 on Wednesday. The Senators lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
The Senators also made a change, welcoming back right wing Patrick Eaves, who missed 11 games because of head injury. Oleg Saprykin, who scored the winner in Game 1 against Buffalo, was forced to sit.
Zubrus has eight assists in 15 playoff games, and played a key role in shutting down both the New York Islanders’ and Rangers’ top scoring lines in Buffalo’s first two series victories.
Stafford has played in nine playoff games this postseason, totaling four points. He finished the regular season with 13 goals and 27 points in 41 games.
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