BUFFALO – Nearly two months after suffering a lower-body injury, Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian is almost ready for his season debut.
Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Bogosian, 25, will play this week. But based on how hard the Massena native has been practicing in recent days, could he play Tuesday when the Sabres host the Dallas Stars?
“It’s been feeling good for a little while,” Bogosian said today after skating. “So now it’s just getting your wind back a little bit. I’m not going to declare what game I’m in. I’m just going to take it day-by-day.”
The Sabres also play Thursday in St. Louis and Saturday in Dallas.
Bogosian, a right-handed shot, practiced on the left side with Rasmus Ristolainen today inside the First Niagara Center. Playing the off side, something Bogosian has done occasionally, doesn’t bother him.
The two would make an intriguing duo. Ristolainen, the Sabres’ second-leading scorer and top minute-muncher, has emerged as the team’s ace defenseman with Bogosian sidelined.
In other injury news, center Zemgus Girgensons missed practice and is questionable for Tuesday, Bylsma said. Girgensons briefly left Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to San Jose in the third period when Tommy Wingels hit him as he fell.
“I don’t have a good update right now,” Bylsma said. “It’s a little bit more than a maintenance day.”
Bylsma said the injury isn’t head-related.
