Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday after practice that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson has progressed very quickly, and may have a shot at playing opening night Thursday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
"I've got a decision on Samuelsson yet, who may practice tomorrow. But the plan is to have seven [defensemen] here when we start," said Ruff on Tuesday.
"He skated before practice and had a pretty good day, so the plan is to practice with us tomorrow."
Nobody knew Timmins was injured until he showed up on IR Monday. Ruff said his injury came Saturday late in the game,
"It's lower-body body and it was at the end of the game. He had some tests done the next morning and that's when we found out."
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returned to practice on Tuesday and said he felt good. Ruff said Luukkonen had a good day. The goaltender said he just felt something small and didn't want to take the chance and stay in Saturday's game,
"It wasn't necessarily that I couldn't finish, it was more precautionary, just didn't want to make anything worse, just a little tweak on one play there, just felt it and just wanted to give myself a chance to be ready once the season starts."
Alex Lyon didn't practice. Ruff said he's doing good and would anticipate within days that he'll be back out there. He said Oleg Zellweger is still doing well, but is still day-to-day. He also didn't practice. Connor Sheary who is on IR did practice. After practice the Sabres sent him to Rochester pending waivers.
Getting back to Luukkonen, I don't think there's any question he'll be in the crease Thursday for the opener. He had a good preseason playing 84 minutes and supported a 1.43 goals against and .933 save percentage. Luukkonen said he got more out of the Pittsburgh Penguins home game than the Columbus Blue Jackets game,
"It was mentally more like what the actual season is going to look like, so I'm happy how I played, I'm happy how my game is right now and just excited for the season."
Most athletes set goals for themselves for a new season and Luukkonen is no different,
"Right now it's just start off well, there's no need to look too far right now, we haven't been great at the start of seasons and that's something we have to change, it's the biggest thing in our minds."
Luukkonen spent the summer working on his game,
"Personally that's what I can bring to the table, and that's how I can help the team to win, to be good from the start and be consistent and bring good game every night and help the team win."
With Lyon status up in the air, Luukkonen has to be ready for any scenario. He know that's nothing new to his career,
"Yes you have to be ready for everything, that's the whole thing and there are plenty of situations I've already been through in this league, so when your name is called you have to perform."
By winning the Atlantic Division last season, this team knows other teams will be gunning for them. Luukkonen said,
"We've got to be ready for it, it doesn't matter if you had a bad season or a good season, it doesn't matter this season it's a clean slate, and everybody's going to be ready, we start from zero points and the Atlantic Division overall, we know how good a division it is and how tight those playoff spots will be and nothing will be free."
Lindy Ruff did some line switching saying that with only four preseason games, there were things he never got a good look at.
Forwards:
Doan - Norris - Thompson
Krebs - McLeod - Helenius
Benson - Ostlund - Quinn
Kulich - Carrick - Malenstyn
Defense:
Dahlin - Crevier
Grzelcyk - Metsa
Power - Kozak
Sheary - Danforth
The Sabres defenseman could join practice as soon as Wednesday
The Sabres defenseman could join practice as soon as Wednesday
