Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - As the Buffalo Sabres prepare to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, the injury situation is starting to get better.
Head coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday following the morning skate that winger Jason Zucker would be available to play on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, winger Zach Benson was back on the ice with his teammates for the first time since taking a puck to the foot on Oct. 30 in Boston against the Bruins.
"I’m very encouraged that in a short period of time that he’ll be back," said Ruff with the media.
Wednesday will be the ninth-straight game Benson missed. The kid is just happy to be around his teammate on the ice.
"It’s obviously a blast to be out there, and it was fun," said Benson following the morning skate.
Benson says he’s never had these types of injuries to start a season, and adds it’s the guys in that room that get him through.
"Honestly, coming to the rink every day and seeing the guys it makes it a lot easier, even when they’re on the road for a week and there’s only a couple of us back it’s pretty tough mentally," Benson said.
Colten Ellis likely will get his third-straight start in goal, and fourth in five games for the Sabres. He is 3-1-0 this season with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
If the Sabres win against the Flames on Wednesday, it’ll be their first three-game winning streak of the season. They’ve scored 10 goals in those two wins.
Buffalo is still dead-last in the Eastern Conference, four points out of a playoff spot. Overall, they’re 29th with a points percentage of .444.
The Sabres lead the league in penalty killing, and power play goals in two out of three games has them 23rd.
Sabres forward Tage Thompson has four goals and three assists for seven points in his last four games.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has four assists in the two games he’s been back from Sweden.
The Flames were in Chicago on Tuesday, so they didn’t get to Buffalo until late. With that in mind, Buffalo may see backup goalie Devin Cooley on Wednesday night. He’s 0-2-1 this season with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
Calgary is dead-last in the NHL with a points percentage of .310. They’re also last in goals, as their leading scorer is Nazem Kadri with four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 21 games.
The Flames have one win in six games and are 2-9-1 on the road.
Join "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6:30 when you’ll hear from Ruff, Benson and Peyton Krebs.
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