"It's been three years so maybe you need a refresher when it comes to injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This is the time of the year when what's billed as a sprained ankle is really a separated shoulder, when players quickly defer to the coaches rather than reveal much of anything about their maladies and when Lindy Ruff gives tiny, tiny answers to that genre of questions. If he gives any answers at all.

That leaves the media looking for any furrowed brow, any raised eyebrow, any wink to figure out what's going on. On Tuesday, the smoke signals coming out of HSBC Arena were good ones: It looks like the Buffalo Sabres are getting center Tim Connolly back for Thursday's playoff opener against the Boston Bruins.

A chatty, enthusiastic Connolly seemed raring to get back in the game while sitting in his locker talking to reporters after going through his first full practice in nearly two weeks. He has missed the last nine games with what's believed to be a foot injury.

As for Ruff, you could see the smirk come through too. He was thrilled to see his second- leading scorer back. Connolly posted career highs this season in assists (48) and points (65).

"For his first practice, I thought Tim did well," Ruff said. "We'll let the coach decide. He needs to have a good practice tomorrow. We'll hope it just carries on and elevates it. He got involved in some physical stuff and tomorrow a little more. I would anticipate him progressing."

"It felt good," Connolly said. "I've been skating for a few days and I'm just starting to get into the best possible game shape. It's a matter of getting my legs going."

So what about Thursday?

"You'll have to talk to Lindy for that," said Connolly, failing to hide his grin. "I don't know. It's going to be a coach's decision. It's totally up to whether or not they feel I'm ready to go.

"We haven't talked yet. I feel good out there. Did some battle drills on the day off, some tough drills in the corner. It feels good to me. It feels ready to go."

Connolly skated on his own over the weekend and has been doing regular exercise bike work for about a week. His return gives the Sabres more firepower down the middle with both Connolly and Derek Roy in the lineup. Connolly was also a key figure on the team's power play and one of its penalty killers."