Olofsson, Ullmark practice in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG --Linus Ullmark was back at practice with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on Jan. 28.
Ullmark's presence was one of two pieces of good news for the Sabres, who also had Victor Olofsson back in his usual spot on a line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart after the rookie winger left Saturday's game in Arizona during the second period with an apparent injury.
While Olofsson is expected to play Tuesday in Winnipeg, coach Ralph Krueger said the best case for Ullmark is to see him back sometime in the next week.

"This is the next step for him, is to see NHL shots," Krueger said. "There's only so much our rehab team can do as far as getting a goalie ready so it's important to get him in practices, have him see some shots today, see some shots tomorrow. There's no timeline here. It's the beginning of the next phase."

Ullmark's injury occurred during the third period of a loss to Ottawa at KeyBank Center. The goaltender was following the action behind his net when his left skate appeared to collide with the post, forcing him to fall awkwardly on his right leg.
Krueger said the coaching staff felt pleasantly surprised by how sharp Ullmark looked in his first practice back. Ullmark said he felt better than expected, though not 100 percent. He was particularly enthused about being back around his teammates after being separated through the first three stops of their Western Conference road trip.
"I think that's the biggest thing for me right now is just to be around the guys, socializing," he said. "When you're injured, you're kind of in your own bubble trying to work on things you need to do to get back as soon as possible so you don't really hang around with the boys anymore. So, that's one of the things that I really do enjoy doing."
Ullmark had started 18 of Buffalo's last 20 games prior to his injury. He's posted a .914 save percentage in 33 games this season and his 16 wins are a career high.
"He just developed a calm and a confidence trusting, number one, his positional play, especially off breakdowns and second chances," Krueger said. "He just stayed strong and solid and calm and we loved that about his game.
"We need to just find that back really quickly because it was that combination of being aggressive in the right moments but also understanding when he needed to just use his size and his positional play to defend. He looked really good in practice today, I have to say."

Monday's practice

Krueger said he was pleased with the attitude of the team on the heels of three disappointing road losses, two of which were tied entering the third period. The Sabres will look to salvage the final game of the trip tomorrow against the Jets, a team they beat at home just eight days ago.
"We just keep everybody active so that nobody starts feeling sorry for themselves or loses their eye on the ball, and the ball is that we're developing a culture here and we're developing an identity," Krueger said.
"We all believe in that. How hard we work here is going to be critical wherever this future goes and that's something we can feel in the team. We feel it in the spirit and we feel it in the work ethic of a practice like today where you don't see anybody with their heads down."
Here's how the Sabres lined up.
Forwards
68 Victor Olofsson - 9 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 22 Johan Larsson - 21 Kyle Okposo
53 Jeff Skinner - 27 Curtis Lazar / 67 Michael Frolik - 17 Wayne Simmonds
13 Jimmy Vesey - 90 Marcus Johansson - 95 Dominik Kahun
Defensemen
10 Henri Jokiharju, 19 Jake McCabe, 24 Lawrence Pilut, 26 Rasmus Dahlin, 33 Colin Miller, 55 Rasmus Ristolainen, 62 Brandon Montour
Goalies
40 Carter Hutton
34 Jonas Johansson
35 Linus Ullmark