A key player returns to practice today for the Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres are aiming to return to playing games this Monday night against the New York Islanders. The team has had as many as nine players and their head coach, Ralph Kreuger, in the NHL’s COVID health and safety protocol at once. All of these players won’t be ready to suit up on Monday night, but Buffalo may have at least one big-name back with the team.

Sabres forward Taylor Hall returned to practice today. Hall confirmed that he did test positive for COVID-19 but never had any symptoms. His plan as of now is to be in the lineup on Monday night when the Sabres take on the Islanders at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

Hall was added onto the Sabres COVID list on February 2nd, two days after their last game played, which was against the New Jersey Devils.

Hall has gotten off to a slow start in the first ten games with his new team. The former member of the Oilers, Devils, and Coyotes has only tallied one goal in ten games. He has eight assists to go along with his lone goal to give him a total of nine points so far on the season. The Sabres will hope for a more significant impact from the former Hart Trophy winner once the season continues for Buffalo.

Once play does resume for the Sabres, they will have some catching up to do. But luckily for Buffalo, they still have plenty of games to get the job done. As expected, Buffalo slid down to the last place in the East Division during their two-week pause.

But even after missing six scheduled games, they are only three points out of the fourth seed in the east. The Islanders currently hold onto that sought after fourth seed, so the Sabres have some meaningful games set for right when they return to the ice.