What happened: Conor Timmins and Alex Lyon are closing in on a return to game action following Tuesday's practice session. Buffalo expects both players back shortly after extended absences dating back to preseason play.

Why it matters: Getting Lyon back stabilizes depth in net behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as Buffalo navigates its regular-season schedule. Timmins provides another right-shot option on the blue line to help manage minutes across the defensive pairings.

What to watch: Buffalo will monitor how both players respond to full-contact drills before setting target dates for their season debuts.