Sabres' Dmitry Kulikov: Stuck in doghouse

Kulikov will start sitting out games as a healthy scratch if his play doesn't improve, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.

Those words came straight from head coach Dan Bylsma on Thursday, who is obviously frustrated by the lack of production and consistency from the 26-year-old Kulikov. Acquired from Florida via trade, Kulikov has had an injury-riddled season in which he's appeared in just 37 games, registering just two points and an ugly minus-15 rating despite averaging 22:03 of ice time. The Sabres were unable to find a new home for him at the trade deadline, and given how poorly his season has gone, he's unlikely to be re-signed. If Kulikov sits, Justin Falk is expected to step into his spot in the lineup.