Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury, is expected to return for this afternoon’s contest against the Oilers, coach Lindy Ruff told reporters in Edmonton.
“I’m confident he’ll play,” Ruff told reporters after McLeod participated in Friday’s practice.
McLeod, 25, played four seasons for the Oilers before they traded him to Buffalo during the offseason. He was injured in practice Jan. 16, a day after recording his first NHL hat trick.
In other news, winger Jason Zucker, who has missed the last two games because of illness, also practiced Friday.
Ruff said the Sabres need to see how the veteran feels before pronouncing him ready to play.
Meanwhile, Ruff said captain Rasmus Dahlin sat out Friday’s session for precautionary reasons.
Update: The Sabres have activated McLeod off injured reserve and sent rookie forward Tyson Kozak back to the Rochester Americans.