Sabres' Granato: Thompson ready to play Saturday vs. Flames

Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato said star forward Tage Thompson will be ready to play in Saturday's afternoon meeting with the Calgary Flames.

Thompson exited the Sabres' 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 1 with an upper-body injury. He was considered day-to-day before that contest.

Though it doesn't appear he'll sit out any regular-season games because of the issue, the 25-year-old missed last weekend's All-Star Game. Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin replaced him on the Atlantic Division's roster.

Thompson has been integral to Buffalo's success this season, pacing the team with 34 goals and 68 points in 50 contests.

He's playing out the final campaign of a three-year contract at a $1.4-million cap hit before his seven-year, $50-million deal kicks in next season.

The Sabres sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 26-20-4 record and are three points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot.