Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- After the Buffalo Sabres' most recent win over Montreal, their leading scorer was nowhere to be found on the ice for practice the following morning. Suffering a lower-body injury against the Candiens that forced him to leave the game prematurely, Thomas Vanek did not participate in Wednesday's skate.
When asked about Vanek's availability for Thursday night at home against Toronto, interim coach Ron Rolston said it would be a possibility for their top forward, but they have to see how he feels in the morning. The forward still holds the 'day-to-day' designation from the coach.
Other than Vanek, practice resumed with 13 forwards and 7 defensemen on the ice. Former first-round pick Mark Pysyk was on the ice with the team, as was the injured Andrej Sekera.
Sekera hasn't totally been ruled out for Thursday's contest, however Rolston said the weekend seems more likely. The defenseman was the extra man on the blue line throughout the Sabres' shortened session that lasted around 30 minutes.
Steve Ott remained with Cody Hodgson and Jason Pominville as part of the top line after his two goal effort. Without Vanek, Drew Stafford was bumped up to the second line with Tyler Ennis and Ville Leino.
The Sabres take on the Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center on Thursday night.
who cares. the only purpose vanek serves is to stand in the way of a good losing streak. whcih at this point is all i root for. this team stinks, has stunk, and will continue to stink, without a complete blow up and rebuild.
keepers:
hodgson
grigorenko
??
i think that's it. everyone else is for sale! even if for only a used skate sharpener and a bag of pucks!
last, i think it should be darcy's days in buffalo are numbered not miller's. although if someone wants both...you can have 'em!
Hockey Hell Baby!
03/20/2013 12:48PM
Any trades yet???
The silence is deafening. What are we waiting for? FIRE REGEIR!!!
03/20/2013 12:54PM
Bobby Ryan and Jonas Hiller to Buffalo at e4.5
To Anaheim...Miller, Sekera, and Stafford. Stay tuned...
03/20/2013 2:42PM
Oooh pinch me I'm so excited!
Just think, this team COULD make the playoffs! Wowsie, how can I possibly NOT be enthused about that prospect of a team that has NO CHANCE IN THIS UNIVERSE of winning the Stanley Cup actually being able to try??? I need to listen to more of the "blowing sunshine" show starring Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters so that I can really believe in this team again despite the fact that I can't stand half of its' players.
03/20/2013 5:03PM
Seriously?
My God! Someone please proofread these articles!
03/20/2013 7:25PM
Hope he can play.....
the alternatives are Gerbe and Scott.
03/21/2013 8:26AM
Black Smoke
I sa a funny post on Facebook, it was a picture of a chimney on FNC with black smoke blowing out and the caption, "Black Smoke...Still no new GM..."
03/21/2013 10:30AM
alternatives
ill take gerbe over vanek everyday!!
03/21/2013 10:56AM
Gerbe needs to play
Gerbe is not a 4th line player. I'm not sure why he is playing on this line. When Ron came on board he placed Gerbe on a line with Ennis and Ott. In that short time Gerbe was playing around 17 minutes a game and he scored 3 goals. He started producing. Why then was he was placed on the 4th line? And in the two previous games before being a healthy scratch he was left out of the third period play all together. I'm sorry but I believe Gerbe should be in Leino's spot on the second line. Ron talked about how players needed to earn their time. What has Leino done to earn him a spot on the 2nd line?
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