BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris is now likely week to week with an upper-body injury.

After the oft-injured Norris left Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period, the Sabres labeled his status as day to day.

“He’s kind of gone more from the day to day that it looks like now it might be longer,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Sunday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “I can’t really peg a time for you. I mean, it looks like it’s going to be week to week. (He’s) not really recovering probably the way we had hoped. But … there’s nothing definitive.”

Norris, 26, did not accompany the Sabres on their five-game road trip that began with Monday afternoon’s 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

He has battled injuries throughout his career. Since the Sabres acquired him March 7, he has played just 22 games, including 19 this season.

– Sabres forward Konsta Helenius the 13th overall pick in 2024, made his NHL debut Monday, skating 10 minutes, 47 seconds.

Helenius, perhaps the Sabres’ top prospect, played alongside center Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan.

The Sabres recalled Helenius, 19, for insurance up front after Norris’ latest injury. The Finn sat out two games as a healthy scratch.

Winger Jordan Greenway’s absence created a spot for Helenius, a natural center. Greenway, who’s on a load-management plan, doesn’t play back-to-back games and often skips practices and works off the ice.

Greenway could return for tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Helenius has spent most of the season as the Rochester Americans’ No. 1 center, compiling nine goals and 30 points in 34 games while often skating more than 20 minutes.

“It’s nice to be here,” Helenius said. “I’ve been here already in camp two years, but it’s much different here when the season’s going.”

In addition to skill, Ruff said the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Helenius also has “got some bite to his game.”

“He’s not your real prototypical talented guy,” he said. “Like, he’s got some (aggressiveness) where he gets into people. He’s got a little physicality to him at the same time.”

Helenius believes perhaps his improved two-way game helped him reach the NHL.

“Last year, it wasn’t that easy,” he said.

– Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, who has missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury, practiced Sunday and will play this week, Ruff said.

Before Lyon went down Dec. 29 late in the Sabres’ 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, he was the NHL’s hottest goalie, having compiled a 7-0-0 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in a seven-game stretch.

“Just kind of a freak play, honestly,” Lyon said. “You get desperate. Sometimes in those situations you lose self-preservation and you gain game preservation. But, yeah, just an awkward play. But feeling good now, ready to go.”

– Ruff told reporters following Monday’s loss that defenseman Michael Kesselring missed the game because he tweaked the high ankle sprain that recently sidelined him seven contests.

Kesselring, who has battled injuries all season, returned for Saturday afternoon’s 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild and practiced Sunday.

Ruff said Kesselring could play tonight.

“It’s nothing … we think is too serious,” he said.

Defenseman Jacob Bryson moved back into the lineup against Carolina.

– A dynamic stretch in which Sabres center Tage Thompson scored three goals and an NHL-high nine points in four games has earned him First Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Thompson, 28, enjoyed one of the best outings of his career in Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens, scoring his ninth career hat trick and hitting the five-point mark for the third time.

The American registered his 200th career goal and his 22nd game-winning score that night.

Thompson also recorded an assist in last Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, two assists in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers and an assist in Saturday afternoon’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Predators defenseman Roman Josi (two goals and seven points) and Utah Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka (three wins, 1.67 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage) were named the second and third stars, respectively.