BUFFALO – Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said rookie forward Noah Ostlund, who has missed the last 12 games with an upper-body injury, is “real close” to playing.
“I would consider him a possibility for tomorrow,” Ruff said this afternoon in KeyBank Center.
The Sabres play Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Thursday in Boston against the Bruins. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.
Ostlund emerged as one of the Sabres’ biggest surprises this season, registering 11 goals, 27 points and a plus-11 rating in 60 games. After beginning thee campaign with the Rochester Americans, his two-way play and hockey smarts helped him secure regular duty in Buffalo.
The Swede returned to practice Saturday.
The Sabres did not practice today following Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to the Bruins.