BUFFALO – By the end of the week, the Sabres could have a healthy forward corps for the first time this season.
Winger Jack Quinn, out since tearing his Achilles tendon in late June, will make his season debut tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Quinn, 22, skated this morning at left wing alongside center Tyson Jost and Victor Olofsson. Coach Don Granato also said Quinn will also kill penalties.
“I always had around this time in my head,” Quinn said this morning in KeyBank Center. “It’s been six months now, about 25 weeks. So I think we’ve given it plenty of time and I’m ready to go.”
Meanwhile, wingers Jeff Skinner (upper body), Zemgus Girgensons (lower body) and Jordan Greenway (upper body) could all return from their respective injuries before the Sabres disperse for their three-day Christmas break.
The Sabres also host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday and play a road game against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Granato said Skinner, out since Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon hit him Wednesday, is day to day.
“He’s feeling better every day,” he said. “(With) what he’s dealing with, it’s all about how you feel. So he’s progressed. He has not regressed. … If that continues, we’ll see him in four days or so.”
Granato said Girgensons, out the last 12 games, is improving. For a bit, he had stopped progressing.
“There’s potential before the break that he gets in there before the break,” he said. “Potential. If not, I would say right after the break.”
Greenway, out the last eight games, returned to practice Monday.
In lineup news, Granato said winger Alex Tuch, who sat out Monday’s practice for maintenance, will play tonight.
After utilizing seven defensemen for Saturday’s 2-0 road loss to the Arizona Coyotes, the Sabres will go down to six and scratch rookie Ryan Johnson.
Goalie Devon Levi will start, his fifth nod in the last seven games.
