Sabres get good news on injured players

BUFFALO -- The Buffalo Sabres got positive news regarding injuries to center Jack Eichel and left wing Evander Kane, and they may have goalie Robin Lehner back from illness on Sunday.
Sabres coach Dan Bylsma gave an update on the condition of Eichel (left high ankle sprain) and Kane (cracked ribs) on Friday following practice.

Eichel is out of the walking boot he's had on since he was injured during practice on Oct. 12.
"Jack [Thursday], was at two weeks and a day and got the boot off," Bylsma said. "I don't know exactly what his exercise level that he moved to, but I know that he was walking in the boot for a few days before [Thursday] and got the boot off [Thursday] and we saw him walking around postgame [Thursday] with the boot off."
Kane sustained four cracked ribs during Buffalo's opening night 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 13. Just over two weeks after being injured, he's nearly ready to resume workouts.
"He's closer to starting cardiovascular [workouts] off the ice," Bylsma said. "It would probably be another three to five days. We'll see when he's going to progress, I would say."
Lehner rejoined the Sabres at practice Friday after missing the past four days with a stomach illness. Lehner sat out a 4-3 shootout loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday and a 4-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center on Thursday

"I'm ready," Lehner said. "I'm not playing Saturday], I think I'm playing Winnipeg [Sunday], I'm going to play away, but I feel good. I had a good practice and it [stinks]; I really want to play right now and I felt like I was making strides and I was feeling pretty good."
Bylsma said he hasn't decided whether Lehner or Anders Nilsson would face the Florida Panthers on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; MSG-B, FS-F,
[NHL.TV
).