BUFFALO — The Buffalo Sabres could be without their top six goalies when they play at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; BSAZ, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
Michael Houser, who was expected to start at least one of the next two games — Saturday, or at the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday — was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Friday.
He was the only Buffalo goalie with an NHL contract available heading into the weekend after Aaron Dell was suspended three games Wednesday for interference against Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson in a 5-0 loss Tuesday.
The Sabres signed Houser on Jan. 12, one day after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) and Malcolm Subban (upper body) were injured in a 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Houser (2-0-0, 2.00 goals-against average, .948 save percentage) had signed a contract with Rochester of the American Hockey League.
Luukkonen is out week to week and has yet to return to practice. Subban had surgery Jan. 20 and is out for the season.
Craig Anderson (4-2-0, 2.50 GAA, .921 save percentage) hasn’t played since Nov. 2, when he sustained an upper-body injury in a 5-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and Dustin Tokarski is recovering from the effects of COVID-19.
Mat Robson and Charles Williams are the goalies on the Rochester roster. Neither has played an NHL game nor has an NHL contract.
Anderson rejoined the Sabres at practice for the first time Jan. 21 in a no-contact jersey and practiced in a regular jersey Thursday.
“There’s no pressure (to return),” he said Thursday. “When the time is right, the time is right. We’re all competitors. I’m a competitor. My job is to get better and get out there and play, and I want to play. I think that’s the best thing, is the mentality of wanting to play. But on the other side of it, you have to be honest with yourself.”
Tokarski was a full participant at practice Friday for a second straight day. He traveled for the three-game road trip but it’s unclear when he will be ready to play.
“It’s a…