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Vanek Injury Not As Bad As First Feared



Pat Malacaro Reporting

Buffalo, NY (WGR550)  -- Thomas Vanek was not on the ice at today's Sabre practice after suffering an upper-body injury in the teams' 6-2 win over Detroit Tuesday night. After the game, Head Coach Lindy Ruff said that Vanek could miss weeks. After today's practice, Ruff said that the injury isn't as bad as first feared and wouldn't rule Vanek out of action this weekend.  Ruff said the forward is feeling better today after undergoing several tests since the injury first occurred.

Adam Mair skated in Vanek's spot on the wing with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford.  The rest of the lines remain the same as last night.  Dan Paille and Nathan Paetsch are the extra forwards as well.  Ruff added that any of the three players could take Vanek's left wing spot on the team's top line.  Mair said he was not aware of being added to Roy's line.  The forward said he was just, "given a jersey...and told to go play there."

Mair is itching to get back into the lineup since missing time after off-season hip surgery.  He was a healthy scratch last night, along with Paille and Paetsch.  Lindy said Vanek's status depends on how the forward feels each day.  He also said Nathan Gerbe is not going to be called up to fill the spot, at this point.  Ruff also said does not want to disrupt the make-up of any of the other three lines right now.

Ruff also said he was happy with the defensive pairing of Henrik Tallinder and rookie Tyler Myers.  Tallinder was a plus-five in the win over Detroit.  The head coach thinks the two have fed off of one-another since being matched up.  He also thinks Henrik has been more confident than in past seasons, moving the puck well.  Ruff thinks the two have good chemistry together and and their physical nature has been a plus.

Lindy also noted that he has not made any decisions on the goaltending situation for the weekend.  He did not say whether Patrick Lalime will make his first start of the season this weekend.  The team hosts the Islanders and Thrashers in back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday nights.

For the latest on Vanek's injury status, stay tuned to WGR Sports Radio 550 and wgr550.com.

Photo courtesy of The AP.

10/14/2009 3:09PM
Vanek Injury Not As Bad As First Feared
Comment on this article...
10/14/2009 3:12PM
re: vanek injury
thank god! We actually caught a break!
10/14/2009 3:27PM
MAIR
Goodbye, Please don't go away mad, just go away. We don't need anymore underqualified grinders anymore.
10/14/2009 4:06PM
God's finally favor our city!!
Thanks for finally bestowing your grace upon this cursed city. Thank you for healing Vanek. I shall sacrifice 3 lambs in your honor.
10/14/2009 4:07PM
Re: MAIR
Adam really isn't that bad of a player for a 4th liner...Peters was much worse.
10/14/2009 4:12PM
re:MAIR
I'd rather say goodbye to Ellis. And, what happened to Paille?
10/14/2009 4:39PM
Mairsy
Why would you rather say goodbye to Ellis? Paille seems like as natural a fit for that line as you'll find picking from a bunch of 4th liners.
10/14/2009 4:53PM
thomas vanish
pretty sure if gaustad played like vanek and didnt hustle he could score just as much
10/14/2009 6:19PM
Wow
This is really good news for the Sabres. Now that win against the Wings tastes even a little better
10/14/2009 7:11PM
re: thomas vanish
what? are you trying to say? that vanek is lazy? you're a fool. he scores from the most brutal part of the ice, which is within 10 feet of the goal. learn about hockey before you comment on here you unintelligent slob.
10/14/2009 7:51PM
are you kidding
Vanek may not hustle as much as most but he can score as well as any one in this league! hes young and will only get better as long as the personnel around him continually upgrades!
10/14/2009 9:22PM
Vanek
He's our second best player on the team next to Ryan Miller. Vanek will have 50+ goals just watch and see he already has 3.
10/14/2009 9:33PM
re: vanish
really? because I'm sure if he could score 40 he would be doing just that. I'm sure if anyone on the team could score 40 Ruff would tell them to do so. I'm guessing you just wanted to use your Vanek/Vanish nickname.... you can stop anytime.
10/14/2009 10:50PM
Re: thomas vanish
You clearly no little about the sport.
10/14/2009 11:13PM
nice spelling exhibition
Man, you people are bad.
10/14/2009 11:37PM
mair
mair's a hard worker and will be welcomed with open arms when given a chance but were playing like the best team in the league so why sit someone for mair when everyone is playing so good. It's great though that we have extra guys who are talented and hard working like mair and paille becuase everyone whose playing knows if they dont give it there all they will be in mair's position (the outside looking in)
10/15/2009 8:08AM
Vanek
I'll weigh in on this. Vanek is not a clutch goal scorer - he might get decent numbers - about 40 per year but will never be a guy you can count on to get you a clutch goal. He is above average but not the superstar the team needs in a forward to turnthe corner.
10/15/2009 8:15AM
Vanek
Slightly above average. Won't get you many clutch goals and can't be counted on when a team needs a game tying goal. I will say he has improved in coming out with with the puck behind the net in a scrum, whereas early on his career you could count onthe other guy winning the battle. He is average as a goal scorer. He will get around 40 again this year.
10/15/2009 8:18AM
T Vanek
What happened to Vanek? What type of injury does he have? Anybody knows?
10/15/2009 8:19AM
vanek
I like Vanek
10/15/2009 9:21AM
re-vanish
I wouldn't say Vanek is lazy, but he's certainly selfish and soft. It would have been better had the Oilers got him a couple of years back.
10/15/2009 9:58AM
Nuts!
The people calling Vanek lazy, average, and soft are exactly why Buffalo deserves the teams like the Bills. A team full of Gaustads and Mairs and Koletas will get nowhere. Ever!!! Come on people wake up and learn the game. He better be careful, becauseif Lindy has his way, he'll ruin his carrer.
10/15/2009 11:25AM
Not Clutch???
I love how many people are on here saying he will never be that “go to guy” to score a goal. How about pretty much the entire second half of the 07/08 season in which he almost single handedly carried the team into the playoffs. For those who forget, or like to pretend that he isn’t clutch how about you go to sabres boxscores for 12/22/07, 2/20/08, 3/19/08. If any of you are curious and are too lazy to look them up, let me summarize, Vanek scores goals, lots of goals, all late all important. There are many other examples however those really stuck out to me. Vanek has had a reputation of scoring big goals his entire career, going back to Minnesota.
10/15/2009 2:26PM
Vanek is Clutch
He's far and away the most clutch scorer on this team, not that this is saying too much. But he's helped us win many games when we were behind and is a top 5 sniper in the league. That's not to say he's a top 5 player by any means because he's noteven close. He may be just top 50. But he's a damn good goal scorer and is often not used correctly and should get more ice time. Lindy should honestly leave him out for the entire 2 minutes of a PP.
10/15/2009 4:36PM
mair
put mair with goose and mike g put kelata with roy and staffard patty makes a big hit draws the anger/attention of a player or 2 and you have a great chance going down ice (just a random thought)
10/15/2009 4:50PM
Vanek is clutch!!!
One game stands out, don't remember the opponent, but he scored the tying goal and winner in O/T. Now go sit in a corner with your dunce hat.
10/15/2009 6:08PM
Vanek is average...
In what world is 40 goals average in the NHL? Possibly the dumbest thing I've read on here, and there's been plenty of competition.
10/15/2009 11:34PM
re: Nuts
I don't think Ruff "ruins carers," and I'm not exactly sure as to whose career for example you're referring to. In fact I'd say he fosters a lot of the talent here.... but what do I know. But you are right about one thing when a guy gets hurt and people start calling him soft etc. it is that exact attitude that makes me realize that those fans do deserve teams like the Bills and should stick to that franchise.
10/16/2009 11:19AM
re: nuts
He's soft because he came back scared after breaking a jaw. I'm sure it's not fun, but many before him have gotten stronger after a lot worse, and many more will in the furure. He can score goals, sure, but he could also create a lot more goals if he wasn't trying to score so many. I've seen him opt against a good setup to take a bad shot...often.
10/16/2009 1:23PM
It's Bad Enough
To put Paille in the line up. He belongs on another team. Fire Regeir!
10/17/2009 10:50PM
re paille
he sholuld bew in the minors ,no hockey sense
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