Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - During Monday’s morning skate, both Josh Norris and Jason Zucker joined their Buffalo Sabres teammates for the first time.
Norris got hurt on opening night shortly after taking a neutral zone faceoff, while Zucker has been sick since Nov. 2 with a severe illness.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff says Zucker will have to put some weight on before he gets back to game action.
"Whatever it was, it took its toll," said Ruff following the morning skate. "Coming back, you’ve got to be a little careful too, because you’ve lost that much weight, you’re susceptible to further injury if you’re not close to where you need to be.
Ruff believes the soonest Zucker can get back into the lineup is this coming weekend. It may be a bit, though, before Norris is back on the ice for game action.
"It’s the first time they’ve been on the ice, and they haven’t practiced. This is just the early stages, and we’re dealing with two different timetables," Ruff said.
Zucker adds it's a day-to-day approach for him.
"Just see how my energy levels are, see how much food I can eat, how much weight I can get back and where the conditioning is at," Zucker said following practice.
Zucker knows he has work to do to get back.
"I’ve been trying to gain some strength, try to get some food, try to get my conditioning back. That dropped off significantly, so just trying to do those things and get back as soon as I can," he said.
Zucker says he was either on the couch or in bed for almost two weeks. However, he is very thankful for his family.
"My fiancée was taking care of me, she did a great job. Luckily she didn’t get it, so I would’ve been in one if she wasn’t there. So I was thankful for that," Zucker acknowledged.
Meanwhile, many thought Norris would be out for about two months or even more. Ruff says the center has done better, which is an encouraging sign.
"I think we originally thought a little bit longer, but he’s feeling really good," he said. "To have him out there, I look at it as ahead of schedule."
It’s totally understandable that after all the work he put in during the summer that Norris was extremely upset when he got hurt.
"It was tough going through that," Norris said following Monday's skate. "I just wanted to get off to a really good start, and in the preseason I got my game going. It was really good. But sometimes things happen that you don’t understand and you have to live with that.
"There were definitely some tough days, for sure, but you’ve just got to keep going."
Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring wasn’t on the ice on Monday, and is still in a walking boot.
"He’s going to be further evaluated today, but it’s going to be a little bit of time for him," Ruff said.
Zach Metsa has been called up from the Rochester Americans to be the extra defenseman, while Jacob Bryson will be back in the lineup.
Colten Ellis appears to be getting his second-straight start and third start in four games. Ruff has liked many aspects of the young goalie’s game.
"I think he’s made some big saves at key times," Ruff said of Ellis. "His puck play has helped us out. You can frustrate a team by making sure that you’re picking off the rims and you’re stopping the plays that are going around. You can break out a little bit quicker, he’s been good with that. But the most important part is sometimes for a goaltender, it’s just getting that big save at a crucial [time]. I think you look at the save we got on that last penalty kill, it was a big save at that time of the game."
Ellis is 2-1-0 this season with a 3.36 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage.
Buffalo is still in last place in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the NHL with a points percentage of .444. The Sabres are six points out of a playoff spot.
The Edmonton Oilers come into Buffalo with three wins in four games. They also have just three wins in seven games.
Connor McDavid has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in his last seven games against Buffalo. McDavid is second in league scoring with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 20 games.
Leon Draisaitl has 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 20 games this season.
Stuart Skinner has played in five of the Oilers' last six games. He’s 7-4-3 this season with a 2.77 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage.
The Sabres traded away Matt Savoie when they acquired Ryan McLeod from the Oilers. In 20 games, he has two goals and three assists for five points.
In the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks are seventh in the playoff race, while the Vegas Golden Knights are eighth. The Minnesota Wild are ninth, and the Oilers are 10th.
All four teams have 22 points.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. when you’ll hear from Ruff, Norris and Zucker.
MONDAY’S LINES:
Forwards:
Doan - Thompson - Tuch
Rosen- McLeod - Quinn
Krebs - Kozak - Greenway
Dunne - Ostlund - Malenstyn
Defense:
Samuelsson - Dahlin
Bryson - Power
Byram - Timmins
Geertsen - Metsa
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