Rasmus Ristolainen (55) battles Arizona’s Craig Cunningham last season. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen ready to return

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen practiced today and should play in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs inside the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres suddenly need the Finn, who had been sidelined by a lower-body injury all of training camp, badly. Four defensemen are injured 10 days before opening night.

Zach Bogosian and Josh Gorges are both week-to-week with lower-body injuries, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said inside HarborCenter. Bogosian was originally labeled day-to-day last week.

Jake McCabe, meanwhile, suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday’s 6-4 win in Ottawa. Chad Ruhwedel has a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, Bylsma said.

In other news, winger Patrick Kaleta, out with a lower-body ailment since early in camp, skated on his own today and could practice Tuesday. Bylsma hopes the agitator can get into an exhibition game later this week.

Bylsma also said illness sidelined winger Jamie McGinn on Monday.

The Rochester Americans have named Paul Fixter an assistant coach. Fixter, 52, has been a head coach with the AHL Hershey Bears and the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.

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