Vanek skips practice; Kotalik close

Thomas Vanek, who missed part of the second period Saturday with a lower-body injury, skipped the Sabres' holiday practice today. He expects to be back fo Friday's game against the Penguins in HSBC Arena.

"I came back and finished the game, so there's no reason I shouldn't play tomorrow," Vanek told The Buffalo News.

Vanek, walking with a noticeable limp, was injured when hit along the boards by Boston bruiser Milan Lucic.

"I just dumped the puck and didn't see him coming," Vanek said. "I felt like I was in a bit of a vulnerable position, but there's nothing you can do. That's what he does."

Meanwhile, winger Ales Kotalik did drills with linemates for the first time and told The News he expects to be back in the lineup "definitely Monday, maybe Saturday." Kotalik suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago.

---John Vogl

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Comments

[Buffalo Excuses]

Don,

I saw the replay and thought it was borderline but technically clean. Tend to agree with you as a result.

And for those that think Kaleta is not worth his weight in gold, watch all the games and focus on him. He doesn't have to draw a penalty to be effective, he just has to electrify the crowd and make the opposition look over their shoulder.

[Don H]

Earlier in the same game. Kaleta was given a penalty for boarding from behind. This was a similar attack on Vanek and ,of course, no penalty was called. Much like Roy's diving, the refs keep a close watch on Kaleta because of his fierce, often borderline checks.

[TJ]

Memo to Ruff: When Kotalik returns, he should bench MacArthur, who has gone from hot to ice cold in the past 3 weeks and is showing more and more of the same lazy mistakes he did last year.