BUFFALO – Sabres winger Tage Thompson, who left Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 win injured after New Jersey Devils pest Stefan Noesen hit him in the head, skated on his own Wednesday morning, coach Lindy Ruff said.
“Had a good day,” Ruff said following Wednesday’ practice in KeyBank Center. “I mean, he’s got to go through the protocol, the testing, all that stuff. But really felt good, so encouraged.”
In other injury news, Ruff said goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who missed Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury, will practice Friday. The Sabres have today off.
Ruff believes the Finn will be ready for Saturday’s road game against the Nashville Predators, their final contest before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Meanwhile, Ruff said center Dylan Cozens missed Wednesday’s practice because of “a lower-body aggravation.”
“So really don’t know where he’ll be in the next couple of days,” he said. “It was bad enough to not practice.”
Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson also sat out the session with a lower-body injury.
“He won’t be available for the weekend, so we’re looking at him afterwards,” Ruff said.
Meanwhile, winger Beck Malenstyn missed practice after leaving Tuesday’s game with back spasms.
The Sabres got one forward back Wednesday. Rookie Tyson Kozak practiced after recovering from a nasty bout with the flu over the weekend.
“Surprisingly, I thought his practice was pretty good,” Ruff said. “Down a substantial amount of weight. He was one of the guys that really got hit hard with it.”
Ruff also said winger Jordan Greenway, who has missed the last 22 games after undergoing surgery to repair a mid-body injury, is on track to return after the break. After Saturday’s road game, the Sabres play again Feb. 22.
“I watch him practice and he’s full go,” Ruff said. “I think if you needed him, if you were, let’s say this one of the biggest games, he would be knocking at your door to play. But he’s on his plan. The plan is to get him these practices before the break, put the extra work in during the break and be ready to go that first game coming out of the break.”
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Many Sabres practiced on Wednesday using wooden sticks that one of the players bought for his teammates.
“Now they know how we feel,” joked Ruff, who used wooden sticks in his playing days. “It was a nice touch by one of the players. A few sticks didn’t last very long, I can tell you that.”
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Sabres rookie winger Isak Rosen has been named the AHL’s Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.
Rosen, who was recalled Monday, scored five goals, including two game-winner, in three games for the Rochester Americans.
Trade Cozens already.
He does nothing !!!