BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres will have to continue their late-season playoff push without injured goalie Ryan Miller, who did not travel with the team as it left to open a two-game road trip.

After Coach Lindy Ruff said following practice early Friday afternoon that Miller would join the team for its flight to Washington, the Sabres announced he was not on the plane. The Sabres did not provide any other details except to say that the starting goalie is still listed as day to day with what the team is calling an upper-body injury.

The turn of events raised questions as to when Miller will be ready. The Sabres play today at Washington, followed by Carolina on Sunday.

If Miller is unavailable, Jhonas Enroth is expected to start. He earned his first career shutout with 23 saves in a 1-0 win over the Rangers on Wednesday.

“Jhonas played unbelievable last game for us, but you do notice when (Miller is) out of the lineup,” defenseman Tyler Myers said. “He’s proved to be one of the best goaltenders in the world, and he’s a key part of our group.

“It’s nice to know that it’s not long term, and he’ll be back when he’s ready.”

Ruff had said Miller was “doing OK,” and didn’t discount the possibility of playing this weekend. Now, that seems unlikely.

“It’ll depend on where he’s at (today),” Ruff said.

Miller, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner, missed practice and has not been seen since a 4-3 loss at Toronto on Tuesday. It was a game he finished despite taking a hard shot high off the chest in the third period. Three days earlier, he was struck in the mask by a shot from Brian Rolston in a 2-0 win over New Jersey.

Like the Sabres, Miller has rebounded from a slow start. He’s been particularly sharp in going 9-4-3 in his last 16 games, including a stretch last week in which he allowed two goals in three wins, with two shutouts.

Enroth is looking forward to the opportunity, though he hasn’t been informed as to whether he’ll start today.

“It’s a big weekend for us, so I’m real excited,” said Enroth, who has a 6-2-1 record with Buffalo after opening this season with the Portland Pirates. “I want to play, and playing back to back is always fun.”

Enroth’s shutout came with his parents watching, the first time they’ve seen him play an NHL game in person. They won’t be around this weekend, though, after traveling back home to Sweden on Friday.

BLUES: Defenseman Barret Jackman (broken right index finger) and forward Alex Steen (high left ankle sprain) returned to the lineup after missing the last 10 games.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

BLACKHAWKS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3: Viktor Stalberg had the only goal in the shootout and Corey Crawford made 31 saves in regulation and overtime, leading Chicago to a win at Columbus, Ohio.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, and Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell also scored for Chicago.

Derick Brassard, Maksim Mayorov and Samuel Pahlsson scored for the Blue Jackets, Anton Stralman had a career-high three assists and Antoine Vermette added two assists.

DEVILS 4, FLYERS 2: Patrik Elias scored his eighth career hat trick and New Jersey kept its faint playoff hopes alive with a victory over visiting Philadelphia.

Brian Rolston set up all three goals by Elias, rookie Nick Palmieri got the winner midway through the third period, and Johan Hedberg made 34 saves in a must-win game for the Devils.

New Jersey has to win its final five games and get a lot of help or it will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

James Van Riemsdyk and Jeff Carter scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Flyers, who have lost two in a row.

FLAMES 3, BLUES 2: Jarome Iginla scored his second goal of the game with 5:03 left to reach 1,000 points, helping Calgary rally for a victory at St. Louis.

Iginla became the 77th player in NHL history to record 1,000 points when he beat Jaroslav Halak with a wrist shot on a breakaway for the Flames, who were down 2-0 in the second period.

Alex Tanguay added a goal and two assists, and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 25 shots as Calgary remained three points behind Chicago in the race for final Western Conference playoff spot.