Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have been on the minds of many as of late, as their absence over the last few weeks feels like it left a hole within the heart of Western New York.
Now that the Olympic break is over, the team readies for its return with the Stanley Cup Playoffs in clear view.
That's not to say there wasn't any decent hockey over the past few weeks in Milan. It also helps when the United States were golden in both the men's and women's competition at the Winter Olympics, beating Canada in both tournaments in the Gold Medal Game with dramatic overtime finishes.
On the men's side of action, Sabres forward Tage Thompson came away with a gold medal for Team USA, tallying three goals and an assist for four points in six games at the Olympics.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff is certainly happy for Thompson, who put the work in to earn his spot on the U.S. Olympic roster.
"You look at our team and our city here, we have a gold medalist, and he played so well. He was a big part of them winning gold," said Ruff on Tuesday during his weekly appearance on the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR. "He's a good example for all the young guys that are coming in. I think he's been able to control the things that make the biggest difference in the game. Become a good player away from the puck - which gets you more ice time - have elite fitness. I believe he's at that that level right now. So the things he can control, he's controlled, and he's put himself in a great position to become one of the best players in the league."
The big question surrounding Thompson now is whether or not he will make his return to the lineup in the team's first game back against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. With the nor'easter that impacted the Atlantic Coast and his travel schedule, heading to Washington, D.C. to be at the State of the Union address on Tuesday, his status remains up in the air.
"I think all of those players are on such a high, and have and the right to be on that high," Ruff acknowledged with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "I know we're chasing our dream and continuing the way we played, and get him back in the right space. At the same time, let him enjoy the moment with all those other guys. Hopefully we see him later today or possibly tomorrow, is the plan. I've traded texts with him, and he's excited to get back and get going with the rest of guys here, and continue what we've been trying to build."
The Olympic break did allow the chance for a number of players dealing with injuries to rest up and get healthier for the final 25-game stretch of the season. A number of those players included forwards Zach Benson, Justin Danforth and Jiri Kulich, as well as defenseman Conor Timmins and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
"'UPL' is good to go," Ruff said of his goalie. "Benson will not make the start of this trip. I'm not going to rule him out for maybe joining us in Florida, but he won't be available for the New Jersey game. There's some further tests he's going to be doing here in the next couple of days. But on an encouraging front, 'UPL' will be ready.
"Kulich is still under protocol until early March. Timmins and Danforth have both been skating and they're progressing, but neither of those guys will be ready here within next the week or two."
The Sabres will commence their final stretch of games this regular season on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. puck drop from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
