BUFFALO – Winger Zach Benson practiced this morning and will be available to play when the Sabres begin their four-game home stand Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, coach Lindy Ruff said.
“Went well for Benson,” Ruff said following the session in KeyBank Center.
Benson, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 road win against the Los Angeles Kings, missed Monday’s practice. He skated on his own before today’s session.
In other news, Ruff said center Jiri Kulich, who recently left concussion protocol, is “close” to playing.
“We’ll just see how he handled today, yesterday” he said of the Czech’s practices. “I thought yesterday was an OK day for him. He’s still got a little catching up to do. But … he could be an option (for Ottawa).”
In other injury news, Ruff said defenseman Conor Timmins, who has been sidelined all season with a lower-body injury, can play “fairly soon.”
Ruff said Timmins did not feel well following Monday’s practice, his first since the preseason.
“But when he got back this morning, felt good,” he said.
Ruff also said goalie Alex Lyon, who also returned to practice Monday, is “getting close to being ready” to play.
Lyon recently suffered a setback in his recovery.