20210213_Hall_LECOM

Buffalo Sabres forward Taylor Hall confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19 and was asymptomatic throughout his time on the NHL's COVID-related absence list.
Hall was back on the ice with the Sabres for their practice at KeyBank Center on Saturday, making him the first to return among Buffalo's nine COVID-related absences. He was among the first Sabres to enter protocol, along with defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, on Feb. 2.
Hall completed 10 days of quarantine and a solo rehab skate Friday before rejoining the team. He is aiming to play against the New York Islanders on Monday.

"I think at this point, whether you play a game or not, your first game back is always going to feel maybe a little bit rusty after time off," Hall said. "But there's no better way to get back into it than to throw yourself in and just play. I think with doctors and the medical staff we still need to chat a little bit and review some things and all that. But I plan on trying to play on Monday."

AFTER PRACTICE: Hall

The Sabres players who did not enter COVID protocol have been practicing as a team since Tuesday following a week-long shutdown of team facilities. They were delivered synthetic ice and stationary bikes to stay active during the time away from the rink.
Hall had no such luxuries. Though asymptomatic, NHL regulations precluded Hall from working out even at home after testing positive for the virus. Days blended together as he simply passed the time, awaiting the opportunity to rejoin his teammates. He and other players within COVID protocol formed a group chat to check in on one another along the way.
"I'm working back into it," Hall said. "There's lots of times in the summer where I take seven to eight, nine days off at a time to rest and I come back and skate. You don't always feel great the first day but overall, it eventually comes back pretty quick and I'm not worried about that. Fitness is always a touchy kind of subject and I think some guys can overthink it a bit. Just kind of go out and play and see what happens."
Hall has nine points (1+8) through his first 10 games with the Sabres after signing a one-year deal during the offseason. The Sabres have played to a .500 points percentage and sit just three points out of a playoff spot despite having not played a game in nearly two weeks.
"I still believe in myself and what I can do and how I can help the team and the weapons that you can play with on this team, and that's why I wanted to come play here," he said.
"We're going to get it together as a team. We're still right in the middle of a playoff race that is there for the taking so I'm excited to be back and hopefully we can win some games here pretty quick."

Saturday's practice

After practicing shorthanded in their last three sessions, the Sabres reassigned forwards C.J. Smith and Steven Fogarty and defenseman Jacob Bryson from Rochester to the taxi squad on Saturday.
The additions - along with the return of Hall - gave the Sabres a full four forward lines and three defense pairs in preparation for their game on Monday. This is how they lined up:
53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 68 Victor Olofsson
4 Taylor Hall - 12 Eric Staal - 23 Sam Reinhart
49 C.J. Smith - 20 Cody Eakin - 21 Kyle Okposo
72 Tage Thompson - 15 Riley Sheahan - 17 Steven Fogarty
88 Brandon Davidson - 33 Colin Miller
44 Matt Irwin - 10 Henri Jokiharju
78 Jacob Bryson - 3 Will Borgen
35 Linus Ullmark
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
The following players remain on the COVID-related absence list: forwards Dylan Cozens, Curtis Lazar, Casey Mittelstadt, and Tobias Rieder and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, Jake McCabe, Brandon Montour, and Rasmus Ristolainen.