BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jiri Kulich, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, participated in this morning’s optional pregame skate and could play as soon as Friday, coach Lindy Ruff said.
“Friday’s a longshot but should be good to go after that,” Ruff said of the Sabres’ home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. “But I wouldn’t rule out Friday, either.”
If Kulich, 20, doesn’t play Friday, he could return for Monday afternoon’s contest against the Seattle Kraken, the start of a four-game road trip.
The rookie has scored seven goals and nine points in 31 games this season.
In other news, Ruff said defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who has missed the last two games because of illness, will be a game-time decision.
“He kind of had a little on and off with the sickness,” Ruff said in KeyBank Center. “Thought it was away, came back a little. But felt better again yesterday.
“Just trying to evaluate where he’s at. We’ll just see how he feels after he skates this morning. It could still be a possibility.”