Jason Pominville set to return after missing nine games
After failing a neurological test a few days ago, Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Pominville has finally received a clean bill of health and is set to return to the Sabres lineup when they play the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, 3 November.
Pominville was back at practice and looking sharp skating on the team's top line and even got physical with team-mate Paul Gaustad.
"Just trying to get involved and see how it will react, and it was fine," Pominville said after practice. "It's a good relief."
Pominville had started practicing with the team last week, but has only recently been cleared by doctors to play.
Pominville had been out of the Sabres lineup since taking a ferocious hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson on 11 October when the Sabres lost 4-3. Hjalmarsson was ejected from the game and received a two-game suspension for the hit.
Since then the Sabres have struggled, winning only three of their 12 games in the season as they sit in last place in the Northeast Division, and ahead of only the New Jersey Devils, just off the Eastern Conference basement.
"It's definitely not the start we wanted," said Pominville, who watched helplessly as his team struggled. "But we can't sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to look ahead of us."
Pominville is not the only Sabre slated to make a return to the lineup on Wednesday. Head coach Lindy Ruff has also indicated that team captain Craig Rivet should be back in the lineup when the team takes on Boston, after being in healthy scratch.
The status of goaltender Ryan Miller, who is expected to practice with the team on Tuesday, is still uncertain as the reigning Vezina trophy winner continues to recover from a lower body injury.
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