Tweaking the lines
The Sabres returned to practice today without Thomas Vanek, their best goal scorer. He's out with a "upper body" something or other (ribs, shoulder?) suffered Tuesday night just before scoring his second goal against the Red Wings. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he'll be out for weeks.
With the left winger sidelined, Ruff could be forced to tweak his lines yet again. In practice today, Ruff had Adam Mair skating with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford in place of Vanek. Ruff will likely change things up before Friday's game against the New York Islanders.
Does that mean promoting Nathan Gerbe from Portland? Moving center Tim Kennedy back to his natural position at left wing? Rolling the dice with Mair on the Roy line? Giving Daniel Paille his first action this season? The way all four lines played in the 6-2 win over the Wings, he might not want to disturb the other three lines.
The other lines stayed intact this morning. Tim Connolly was between Clarke MacArthur and Jason Pominville. Kennedy was centering the third line with Jochen Hecht and Mike Grier. The fourth line, which has been effective in each of the four games this season, remained the same with Matt Ellis plaing between Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta.
---Bucky Gleason
