Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris returned to the lineup on Monday night against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. He made an immediate impact for Buffalo scoring two goals and adding an assist in a 5-1 Sabres victory. Norris centered the top line with wingers Zach Benson and Tage Thompson.
The 26-year-old forward suffered an upper-body injury in Buffalo’s opening game of the regular season on October 9th against the New York Rangers and remained lost to the club until his return on Monday.
Norris missed 23 games this season and had appeared in just three games for Buffalo last season, also due to injury.
The skilled center was acquired by Buffalo in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for Dylan Cozens on March 7th.
The Winnipeg contest showed what Norris can bring to the Buffalo lineup.
“We saw his speed, some of the plays he made,” said head coach Lindy Ruff. “Good on the power play. I don’t know if we could all anticipate, but I think that’s what we were hoping to see. I thought he had a great night from start to finish.”
Much has been made of Norris’ injury history and his inability to stay in the lineup.
For his part, the native of Oxford, Michigan wanted to help his team, a group that has been challenged by significant injury throughout the lineup from the time the season began.
“I wanted to come back and just kind of get right back in and not be a distraction,” explained Norris.
“I thought the guys have done a good job, they’ve been battling. We’ve had some guys out. I know it happens across the league but it is hard to do that when you have so many guys out. I thought they did a great job up to this point and I just wanted to come in and contribute, really happy to be back.”
Although Norris has a long way to go in terms of showing durability and making a night in night out contribution, his return could be the much needed spark to move the Sabres up the Eastern Conference standings.
If Norris can remain healthy, the top six forward the club has been lacking since the departure of JJ Peterka last summer may already be in Buffalo.
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