By John Vogl
SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Ville Leino's long wait to play may come to an end at his former stomping grounds this weekend.
The hip injury that has kept Leino sidelined all season continues to improve, and the Sabres forward said he hopes to return Sunday when Buffalo visits Philadelphia.
"Philly would probably be one of the good options here," the former Flyer said after participating fully in practice in Prudential Center in Newark, where the Sabres face the Devils on Thursday. "I’m having a lot of fun out there. I wish practices would run longer, and that normally doesn’t happen during the season. It’s pretty exciting."
Defenseman Jordan Leopold, who hasn't played since Feb. 17 because of an upper-body injury, does not yet have a timetable for returning to the lineup.
"It’s just not quite there," Leopold said. "Getting close and making progress every day. The good thing is I haven’t taken any steps backward."'
To hear more about practice -- including Ryan Miller's disappointment with the step back the Sabres took Tuesday and Ron Rolston's thoughts on Tyler Ennis (complete with fire alarm in the background) -- click the audio files below.
Ron Rolston
Ryan Miller
