Jacob Josefson played six games before getting hurt. ©2017, Hickling Images, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Jacob Josefson ready to play

BUFFALO – Following his first full team practice since spraining his ankle Oct. 15, Sabres center Jacob Josefson pronounced himself ready to play.

“I’m anxious to get in,” Josefson said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “I’ve been on the side a while. I’m ready whenever they want me.”

So will Josefson, who has missed 15 games, return for Wednesday’s home tilt against the Minnesota Wild?

“It’s a possibility,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said. “We’re going to see how he reacts to practice. I thought he looked really good out there.”

Without Josefson, the reeling Sabres have been missing a reliable third- or fourth-line checker.

“That stabilization down through the middle, somebody that you can trust playing in any situation, especially on our penalty kill, can relieve some minutes off our top guys,” Housley said. “He provides speed and positionally he’s one of the best on our team, just knowing where to be in the situation.”

Josefson, a free agent the Sabres signed July 1, played six games before getting hurt in the Sabres’ 3-1 win in Anaheim.

“I was starting to get my feet under me, feeling better and better,” Josefson said.

Based on today’s lines, Josefson will likely play. The Swede pivoted Jordan Nolan and the struggling Kyle Okposo on the fourth line. Housley used these other trios:

– Evander Kane, Jack Eichel and Jason Pominville

– Benoit Pouliot, Ryan O’Reilly and Sam Reinhart

– Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson and Kyle Criscuolo

Criscuolo, a center his first three NHL games, said he was a winger three seasons at Harvard.

Wingers Seth Griffith and Matt Moulson skated as extras Tuesday.

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