BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris is now likely week to week with an upper-body injury.
After the oft-injured Norris left Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period, the Sabres labeled his status as day to day.
“He’s kind of gone more from the day to day that it looks like now it might be longer,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I can’t really peg a time for you. I mean, it looks like it’s going to be week to week. (He’s) not really recovering probably the way we had hoped. But … there’s nothing definitive.”
Norris, 26, did not accompany the Sabres on their five-game road trip that starts Monday afternoon against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Norris has battled injuries throughout his career. Since the Sabres acquired him March 7, he has played just 22 games, including 19 this season.
After suffering an upper-body injury opening night, he missed the next 24 games. He has been productive when he’s healthy, scoring six goals and 17 points this season.
In other news, Sabres forward Konsta Helenius, the 13th overall pick in 2024, will likely make his NHL debut against the Hurricanes.
“Right now, that’s the tentative plan,” Ruff said.
The Sabres recalled Helenius, 19, for insurance up front after Norris’ latest injury. The Finn has sat out the last two games.
Winger Jordan Greenway’s absence Sunday created a spot for Helenius, a natural center. Greenway, who’s on a load-management plan, doesn’t play back-to-back games and often skips practices and works off the ice.
Helenius, perhaps the Sabres’ top prospect, practiced at left wing alongside center Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan.
“We’ve seen what Ostlund has done to help us, another young prospect we think really highly of,” Ruff said of Helenius. “He should be excited to get in the lineup. We’ve seen him in exhibition (games) where he’s played pretty well. He’s probably waited for this opportunity now, and he’ll be excited when he gets in.”
Helenius has spent most of the season as the Rochester Americans’ No. 1 center, compiling nine goals and 30 points in 34 games while often skating more than 20 minutes.
“It’s nice to be here,” Helenius said. “I’ve been here already in camp two years, but it’s much different here when the season’s going.”
In addition to skill, Ruff said the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Helenius also has “got some bite to his game.”
“He’s not your real prototypical talented guy,” he said. “Like, he’s got some (aggressiveness) where he gets into people. He’s got a little physicality to him at the same time.”
Helenius believes perhaps his improved two-way game helped him reach the NHL.
“Last year, it wasn’t that easy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, who has missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury, practiced Sunday and will play this week, Ruff said.
The Sabres also play Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
Before Lyon went down Dec. 29 late in the Sabres’ 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, he was the NHL’s hottest goalie, having compiled a 7-0-0 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in a seven-game stretch.
“Just kind of a freak play, honestly,” Lyon said. “You get desperate. Sometimes in those situations you lose self-preservation and you gain game preservation. But, yeah, just an awkward play. But feeling good now, ready to go.”