After missing the past 19 games with a broken wrist, Sabres blueliner Tyler Myers returns to action tonight when Buffalo takes on the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center in Raleigh North Carolina. Myers rejoins the team at a critical time as Buffalo finds themselves sitting four points out of the eighth and final placeoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  After a 19-game absence, conditioning should not play a factor in tonight’s game as Myers was able to keep in game shape during his time off.

“He’s had a lot of good conditioning,” commented head coach Lindy Ruff. “We’re hoping he can lead our D in ice time. That is really my goal. I said we weren’t going to hold back. We have to evaluate it as it goes but the goal is to get him right back into the groove. “

Prior to the injury, Myers had played in 19 games and totaled six points (2+4) and was a plus- -4 and wants to contribute right away for the blue and gold. “It’s always frustrating when you’re not doing as well as you want to, but I’m not going to stand here and say that they need me to win. I’m just happy to be back and help the team as much as I can but they were doing just fine – we just know that we have to be better.”

The Hurricanes find themselves sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Eleven points out of the final playoff spot, the ‘Canes brought in Milwaukee Admirals coach Kirk Muller to try and spark the franchise. However a 5-8-3 record in his first sixteen games has the new head coach searching for a way to spark his club.

Forward Ville Leino skated with the team during this morning skate as he continues to rehab a lower body injury. Cody McCormick and defenseman TJ Brennan also skated extra following the workout leaning towards them being scratched for tonight’s contest.