Tyler Ennis has missed 11 games. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Tyler Ennis nearing return

BUFFALO – Slowly, Tyler Ennis, out the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, is improving. The Sabres winger skated in an optional practice with five teammates today and will likely join the morning skate Thursday.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Ennis could be moved from the week-to-week category to day-to-day.

If that happens, perhaps Ennis could play Saturday afternoon against Chicago, the last game before the Christmas break.

“We’ll see, see how I come along here,” Ennis said inside the First Niagara Center.

Ennis, who was injured Nov. 23, has taken the injury “as an opportunity to get in great shape,” he said.

“I’ve had some good skates and some good bike rides and I felt good and my body feels good,” he said. “Maybe I can come back with a little more energy than some of the teams, some of the players that have been in the grind the whole time.”

The season has been a tough grind for Ennis, who has only three goals and 10 points in 19 games and zero goals in his last 10 appearances. Bylsma hinted before Ennis was hurt he wanted to reunite him with Zemgus Girgensons and Matt Moulson, the Sabres’ top line from last season.

In other injury news, Sabres winger Marcus Foligno, who missed Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to New Jersey, is still day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Foligno was hurt Monday, Bylsma said.

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