Sabres Injury Report: Updates On Norris, Greenway, and Kozak
Sabres center Tyson Kozak was injured in Ottawa on Tuesday and is out week-to-week. The Buffalo Sabres will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Key Bank Center on Saturday night winners of five of their last six games and out of the Eastern Conference basement, but with less than two weeks to go in the regular season, the club may not be getting some of their injured players back in time.
Head coach Lindy Ruff provided an update on injured forwards Josh Norris, Jordan Greenway, and Tyson Kozak after practice on Friday. Norris played just three games after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators on March 7 due to an injury that occurred before the trade. Ruff indicated that he skated prior to practice and that the plan was for him to get back into the lineup in the final eight games.
Greenway has been out of the lineup since the final game of the three-game Central Division road swing in Winnipeg on March 23 with an unspecified lower-body injury. Ruff did not provide any update on his progress, other than to say that the plan is for the big winger to return before the end of the season.
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Kozak suffered what Ruff described as a mid-body injury in the 5-2 win over the Sens on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week. With less than two weeks to go in the campaign, the Sabres head coach pretty much ruled out the possibility of the fourth-liner returning before the season finale on April 17.
“When I say week to week, the likelihood (is) we're running out of time for him, so there's a good chance he won't play (the rest of the regular season)." Ruff said. "Week to week pushes him to the end of two weeks, which probably means he gets ready (for Rochester in the playoffs)."
Kozak is eligible to play for Rochester since he was on their roster at the trade deadline. With his NHL experience, he could be a valuable contributor during their playoff run. The Amerks' regular season ends on April 19, with the Calder Cup Playoffs tentatively scheduled to begin the following week.
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