Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) – Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday after practice that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson has progressed very quickly, and may have a shot at playing opening night Thursday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.

“I’ve got a decision on Samuelsson yet, who may practice tomorrow. But the plan is to have seven [defensemen] here when we start,” said Ruff on Tuesday.

“He skated before practice and had a pretty good day, so the plan is to practice with us tomorrow.”

Nobody knew about defenseman Conor Timmins being injured until he showed up on Injured Reserve on Monday. Ruff says his injury came late in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s a lower-body body, and it was at the end of the game. He had some tests done the next morning, and that’s when we found out,” the head coach said.

Also on the back end, Ruff says Olen Zellweger is still doing well, but is still day-to-day. He was also not on the ice Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen returned to practice and said after the session he felt good. Ruff also felt his goalie had a good day during Tuesday’s skate.

The 27-year-old goaltender says he just felt something small, and didn’t want to take the chance and stay in Saturday’s game.

“It wasn’t necessarily that I couldn’t finish. It was more precautionary. Just didn’t want to make anything worse,” said Luukkonen on Tuesday. “Just a little tweak on one play there, just felt it and just wanted to give myself a chance to be ready once the season starts.”

I don’t think there’s any question Luukkonen will be in the crease come Thursday’s opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a good preseason, playing 84 minutes and sporting a 1.43 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

Luukkonen feels he got more out of the Penguins home preseason game than the preseason tilt against the Blue Jackets.

“It was mentally more like what the actual season is going to look like, so I’m happy how I played,” Luukkonen said. “I’m happy how my game is right now, and just excited for the season.”

Most athletes set goals for themselves for a new season, and Luukkonen is no different.

“Right now, it’s just start off well. There’s no need to look too far right now,” he said. “We haven’t been great at the start of seasons, and that’s something we have to change. It’s the biggest thing in our minds.”

Over the summer, Luukkonen spent a lot of time working on his game.

“Personally that’s what I can bring to the table, and that’s how I can help the team to win. To be good from the start and be consistent, and bring a good game every night and help the team win,” Luukkonen said.

As for Alex Lyon, he didn’t practice Tuesday after leaving last Thursday’s preseason tilt against the Detroit Red Wings. Ruff says he’s doing good, and would anticipate within days that he’ll be back out on the ice.

With Lyon’s status up in the air, Luukkonen has to be ready for any scenario. He knows that’s nothing new to his career.

“You have to be ready for everything. That’s the whole thing,” Luukkonen said. “And there are plenty of situations I’ve already been through in this league, so when your name is called, you have to perform.

By winning the Atlantic Division last season, this team in Buffalo knows other teams around the league will be gunning for them.

“We’ve got to be ready for it,” Luukkonen said candidly. “It doesn’t matter if you had a bad season or a good season, it doesn’t matter this season. It’s a clean slate, and everybody’s going to be ready. We start from zero points in the Atlantic Division overall. We know how good a division it is and how tight those playoff spots will be. Nothing will be free.”

Ruff did some line switching on Tuesday, saying with only four preseason games, there were things he never got a good look at.

Forwards:

Doan – Norris – Thompson
Krebs – McLeod – Helenius
Benson – Ostlund – Quinn
Kulich – Carrick – Malenstyn
Sheary – Danforth

Defense:

Dahlin – Crevier
Grzelcyk – Metsa
Power – Kozak

One player who did return to practice Tuesday was forward Conor Sheary, who was listed on Injured Reserve when the initial roster was announced Monday. After practice, the Sabres sent Sheary to the Rochester Americans, pending waivers.