Robin Lehner, Mark Pysyk nearing Sabres return

Robin Lehner's debut with the Buffalo Sabres against his former team was short-lived on Thursday as he came up lame after playing the puck behind the net and had to be helped off the ice.

The Buffalo Sabres will send goaltender Robin Lehner and defenceman Mark Pysyk to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, for conditioning this week, according to head coach Dan Bylsma.

Lehner has not played since spraining his ankle in the first game of the season against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 8. He suffered a setback in December while skating.

Lehner has put up a 30-36-13 record, with a .914 save percentage and a 2.88 goals-against average in 87 career NHL appearances. He was drafted by the Senators in the second round, 46th overall in 2009.

Buffalo traded the 21st overall pick in 2015 to acquire the 24-year-old netminder and David Legwand.

Pysyk has been out since Nov. 17 with a broken foot.

The 23-year-old was Buffalo’s first pick, 23rd overall, in 2010.

He has one assist in 18 games this year.

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