Zack Kassian will get his first real taste of professional hockey. The Sabres have assigned their 2009 first-round draft pick to Portland, with the Pirates two games into their second-round AHL playoff series with Binghamton.
Kassian, who signed a three-year deal with the Sabres in November, recently completed his final year of junior hockey. He had six goals and 16 points in 16 playoff games with Windsor, but he missed the final two games for the Spitfires while serving a suspension for hitting an Owen Sound player during their series.
The 20-year-old winger will try to help the Pirates rebound from their 2-0 deficit to Binghamton. Game Three is Saturday.
---John Vogl
