Decision on defense
Toni Lydman is ready to return after missing 10 games with a groin injury. The veteran is healthy but will he be on the ice when Florida comes to HSBC Arena Wednesday night?
Lindy Ruff wouldn't commit to putting Lydman back in the lineup after practice Tuesday in the Pepsi Center. The Sabres won all three games they played last week and Ruff often doesn't mess with a winning lineup. Ruff just said "we're going to discuss it" and make a decision Wednesday morning.
One problem is that the blueliner likely to come out for Lydman, Andrej Sekera, is coming off back-to-back solid games that earned Ruff's praise. The Sabres have three games in four nights again this week and Ruff may wait to break up a winning combination. Ruff said he'll have a decision in the morning but it wouldn't be a total shock to see this one go to the pregame warmup.
When healthy, Lydman is one of the club's old reliables. He was certainly their best defenseman overall last year. Tough call with the club winning without him.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
