BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Sabres center and faceoff ace Sam Carrick resumed practicing on Tuesday, and is in position to return for Buffalo鈥檚 second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Lindy Ruff anticipated Carrick will be back in the lineup soon, without providing a timetable by saying: 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e cleared to practice, you鈥檙e within days of playing.鈥�
The Sabres host Montreal in Game 1 on Wednesday night, followed by Game 2 on Friday.
during a fight with Islanders captain Anders Lee in the third period of Buffalo鈥檚 4-3 win on March 31. He missed the final seven regular-season games and Buffalo鈥檚 six-game first-round series win over Boston.
Carrick鈥檚 return is considered ahead of schedule, and comes after he met with team doctors on Monday.
The Sabres acquired the 10th-year player in a trade with the New York Rangers on March 5. Carrick immediately took over as Buffalo鈥檚 fourth-line center, and has handled key faceoffs, especially in late-game situations in the Sabres defensive zone.
He won 82 of 143 faceoffs for Buffalo. The Sabres entered Tuesday ranked last among 16 playoff teams in winning 43.8% of their faceoffs.
Ruff previously ruled out rookie center Noah Ostlund (lower left leg) for Round 2.
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