No morning skate for Sabres
ASTORIA -- The Sabres usually don't take a morning skate on the second day of back-to-back games, and they were quick to cancel today's outing. Several players are ill. Coach Lindy Ruff said he expects the energy level to be low tonight against the Islanders, so no reason to skate this morning.
We'll find out this evening who will be able to play (Paul Gaustad has already been ruled out), but it wouldn't be a surprise if Patrick Kaleta is among the ill. He was skipped on the first shift of Friday's 3-2 overtime victory over Toronto and played just one shift in the third period. Fellow linemates Adam Mair and Matt Ellis played just two in the final period; that may be because Ruff didn't want to break up any other lines.
As Bucky Gleason wrote, Ryan Miller was the reason the Sabres won Friday. The NHL stats have been updated for the day, and Miller remains at the top in goals-against average and save percentage.
---John Vogl
