Sabres notes: Jordan Greenway skating with ‘zero pain,’ says he can play again this season

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Jordan Greenway can’t explain why his latest rehab regimen has worked so well when the others he tried failed to alleviate his pain.

These days, Greenway, who said he played through “terrible pain” after undergoing two sports hernia surgeries, feels the best he has in years. He sounds happy and relieved as he nears his return to the lineup after missing the last 23 games.

“I’m skating with zero pain, really, and it’s … a great feeling, unbelievable,” he said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center.

In the winter, a frustrated Greenway – “Your faith can really start to go after a while,” he said – sought a fresh opinion to help him combat the pain he has experienced since his surgeries. Nothing he had tried seemed to work.

But his latest routine, which he said features a different focal point and “a lot different movements,” has paid dividends.

“I wish I had the answer on why this worked and other things didn’t,” the Canton native said. “I’m just as shocked as maybe everyone else, just because you know there weren’t a lot of answers for a while.”

Greenway, 29, said he spent about four and a half to six weeks working out for eight hours a day in the gym, the pool and on the ice trying to find ways to use different muscles.

“Just as the protocol continued to go on, I continued to feel better and, yeah, we’re here now, and it’s been … an unbelievable outcome for me so far,” he said.

Since rejoining the team, Greenway said he has been doing a shortened version of his routine.

“It’s been working so far,” he said.

Greenway, who hasn’t played since Jan. 22, has no timeline for his return to the lineup. He recently started practicing again.

“I definitely see myself playing again, for sure, this year,” he said.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Greenway is “getting excited.”

“All the reports are on the positive side, that he’s really progressing,” he said. “The type of treatment and exercise he’s been doing has been great for him, and he said he feels great on the ice, so just keep progressing.”

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The Sabres had the option to send rookie Zach Metsa back to the minors, so they figured what the heck, why not take it?

Instead of scratching the defenseman, by assigning him to the Rochester Americans as they did Thursday, he can play big minutes this weekend.

“He’ll play 20-plus minutes, which will be great for him,” Ruff said prior to Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Amerks began a stretch of three games in three days Friday against the Toronto Marlies at Blue Cross Arena.

Metsa, Rochester’s captain, has looked impressive for the Sabres in limited action on their third pair, registering two goals, six points and a plus-20 rating in his first 38 NHL outings.

Incredibly, at five-on-five, he has been on the ice for 23 goals for and just two goals against.

But with Conor Timmins healthy again after breaking his leg, Metsa, 27, lost his spot in the lineup. So for the weekend at least, he’s back with the Amerks.

“Short-term here with Timmins going back in, we feel Timmins can help our penalty killing,” Ruff said. “(We believe) being healthy back there that the best thing – these next three or four days at least, we’re not going to practice – (is) get him playing time.”

Metsa has registered two goals and 15 points in 16 games with the Amerks this season.

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Sabres forward Noah Ostlund missed Friday’s game with an upper-body injury. Ruff said the rookie is day to day.

Veteran winger Tanner Pearson replaced him, playing his second game for the Sabres since being acquired March 6.