BUFFALO – Injured Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could play in Thursday’s season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
Samuelsson, who suffered a lower-body injury blocking a shot last week, skated on his own Tuesday and could practice with the Sabres today, coach Lindy Ruff said.
If Samuelsson, the Sabres’ top shutdown defender, can’t play Thursday, Ruff expects him to return in the near future.
“Very close,” Ruff said of Samuelsson’s status following Tuesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I mean, that’s the good news for us, for sure.”
When he went down in last Tuesday’s 5-1 preseason win over Columbus, the Sabres said Samuelsson was week to week. On Monday, they placed him on injured reserve.
Right now, the Sabres, who were ravaged by injuries during the preseason, have just six defensemen on their 23-man roster.
One of them, Olen Zellweger, suffered a concussion shortly after Samuelsson was injured against Columbus. The newcomer did not practice Tuesday and has been skating on his own. Ruff said he’s day to day.
Ruff said he plans to have seven defensemen by Thursday, so if Samuelsson or Zellweger can’t play, perhaps the Sabres will recall someone from the Rochester Americans.
The Sabres also lost defenseman Conor Timmins to a lower-body injury when he crashed into the boards late in Saturday afternoon’s preseason finale. While he stayed in the 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ruff said some tests Sunday morning revealed his injury.
Ruff said the Sabres don’t have a timetable for his return.
In other injury news, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen practiced Tuesday after leaving Saturday’s game when he tweaked something on his lower body.
“We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but he had a good day today,” Ruff said.
Luukkonen said he exited the game as a precaution.
“Just didn’t want to make anything worse kind of thing,” he said. “Just a little tweak there one play there. Just felt it, and just wanted to give myself a chance to be ready when the season starts.”
Meanwhile, Ruff said goalie Alex Lyon, who appeared to injure his left shoulder in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings, is “doing good.”
“I would anticipate within days that’ll he’ll be back out there,” he said.
Two forwards – Jiri Kulich (lower body) and Conor Sheary (upper body) – returned to practice Tuesday.
“(Kulich) struggled with a little lower-body issue this last four, five days but felt good today, so he’s in a better place,” he said.
Sheary could be ticketed for Rochester in the near future.
Update: Sheary has been placed on waivers and will be assigned to the Amerks if he clears.