Jack Eichel missed his first NHL game Saturday. ©2016, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jack Eichel ready to play; Tyler Ennis improving

BUFFALO – Center Jack Eichel, who missed Saturday’s 4-1 loss in Toronto with what the Sabres now believe was food poisoning, will likely play Tuesday in Carolina, coach Dan Bylsma said.

While Eichel missed practice this morning because of a doctor’s appointment, the rookie is improving from his “quick bug” and will accompany the Sabres to Raleigh this afternoon, Bylsma said.

Bylsma said Eichel got to the hotel in Toronto early Saturday morning and ate the same food some of his teammates did. By 4 a.m., Eichel wasn’t doing well.

“I’m not quite sure it was food poisoning,” Bylsma said inside the First Niagara Center. “That’s what it looked like.”

The Sabres originally said Eichel had the flu.

Meanwhile, goalie Robin Lehner (ankle) is still recovering and rehabbing and won’t make the trip, Bylsma said.

In other injury news, Bylsma sounded optimistic winger Tyler Ennis, out the last 37 games with a concussion, could play again this season.

“Tyler’s doing quite well, is improving,” he said. “He worked out and skated this morning, so he’s doing better and better, and the hopes of maybe moving in a positive direction maybe in the next seven days.”

He “most definitely” wants to see Ennis play again this season.

Bylsma also said defenseman Cody Franson, out the last 14 games with a neck injury, is in a “holding pattern.”

Rookie goalie Jason Kasdorf, who signed last week, is still recovering from his groin injury, Bylsma said. He hopes the R.P.I. product can practice soon.

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