BUFFALO – In five games without ace defenseman Tyler Myers, the Sabres have struggling badly, imploding late in four losses. They need the 24-year-old minute-muncher back badly.
When could Myers return?
“I’m pretty close,” he said this morning after skating inside the First Niagara Center. “I don’t know when I’ll be back. But it’s been better each and every day. I would assume it’s pretty close.”
Myers, out with a lower-body injury since Dec. 21, could return next week. The Sabres play Saturday in against the Rangers in New York and Tuesday in New Jersey. Myers plans to either accompany the Sabres to New York or meet the team there.
He skated with his teammates this morning and alone Thursday.
“The last two days have been the best days,” Myers said. “If it progresses like this the way it has the last couple days, I expect to be back pretty soon.”
The Sabres desperately need Myers’ puck-moving ability. Myers was enjoying perhaps one of the best stretches of his career last month. He skated more than 29 minutes in the three games before his injury.
“I would say I was pretty happy with my game,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement, but I was feeling pretty good up until I went out.”
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