Lineup notes (updated 1:05 p.m.)
Helenius joins the lineup in the absence of Josh Norris, who was placed on injured reserve but could join the team later in this road trip.
“He could call us Tuesday, Wednesday, and say, ‘I’m doing pretty good here,’ join us for the tail end of this road trip,” Ruff said. “So, I wouldn’t rule him out for later in the week.”
The Sabres had positive news Sunday with the presence of goaltender Alex Lyon, who practiced with the team for the first time since he sustained a lower-body injury in St. Louis on Dec. 29. Lyon was activated off injured reserve, is backing up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Monday and will play at some point this week.
Defenseman Michael Kesselring is out for load management purposes; he returned from injury Saturday, and the Sabres are playing a back-to-back Monday and Tuesday.
Here are the full lines from warmups:
