Sabres’ Jason Zucker to return following six-game injury absence

Buffalo Sabres veteran left winger Jason Zucker will make his return to the lineup Monday versus the Edmonton Oilers after missing the past six games due to a lower-body ailment.

On the season, Zucker has made 54 appearances with the Sabres in which he has registered 18 goals and 26 assists to sit fifth in team scoring with 44 points.

On Friday, Zucker agreed to a two-year extension with the Sabres that will carry a $4.75-million annual average value. Skating in his first season with Buffalo, Zucker originally joined the Sabres last July as part of a one-year, $5-million deal in unrestricted free agency, per PuckPedia.

Originally chosen 59th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 NHL Draft, Zucker has seen 751 career contests counting stops with the Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins, the former Arizona Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and Sabres in which he has tallied 214 goals and 200 assists for 414 points. With the Wild in 2017-18, Zucker reached a career-high 64 points, one of five seasons in which he has scored 20 or more goals. The 33-year-old native of Newport Beach, Calif., has also posted nine goals and nine assists through 52 postseason appearances. Zucker has also added 63 points in 77 games at the AHL level.

For the Sabres, the club enters Monday’s contest against the Oilers in the midst of three-game losing skid. On the season, the Sabres sit 24-32-6 and are on pace to miss the playoffs for the 14th year in a row, an NHL record.

Tuesday also marks the second time the Sabres and Oilers will meet up this season following a late January contest that saw Edmonton prevail in a 3-2 final. Zucker had one assist and three shots in the contest, while Sabres netminder James Reimer turned aside 31 shots in the losing effort.