Grier misses practice; no call for MacArthur

Sabres right wing Mike Grier, who injured his groin during the third period of Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Edmonton, stayed off the ice today while his teammates practiced in Amherst Pepsi Center. Grier is doubtful for Friday's game against Calgary in HSBC Arena.

"Mike is a little sore," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We don't anticipate it being too long, but he could miss a little time. He could. There's still a chance he could play tomorrow, too."

Patrick Kaleta practiced in Grier's place on the line with Tim Kennedy and Jochen Hecht, and the right winger would fill that role if Grier can't play. Adam Mair, waived earlier this week, would replace Kaleta on the fourth line with Paul Gaustad and Matt Ellis.

"Mike's been a great asset to our team, and hopefully he can go," Kaleta said. "If I'm called up to fill a bigger part, it's an opportunity for me and I'm going to try and do my best."

Goaltender Patrick Lalime, who missed four games with a groin injury, practiced fully with the Sabres and will serve as the backup Friday. The Sabres sent Jhonas Enroth back to Portland, and the second-year pro will stay with the Pirates following their game tonight against Rochester in the arena.

Meanwhile, it appears left wing Clarke MacArthur will escape further penalty for his boarding major against the Oilers' Liam Reddox. Neither MacArthur nor Ruff received a call from the NHL this morning regarding the hit, so a fine or suspension is unlikely.

"I don't even feel like I leaned on him that hard," MacArthur said. "He just went in so quick."

---John Vogl

Comments

[jan]

Looking forward to Friday's game because I haven't had the chance to see the Flames in person. I'd like to see Mair get to play. (and see Paetsch play some time soon)

[CalgarySabre2]

I expect TJ is right. Miller will play both games because they are against good teams, and the Sabres have another 3 day break afterwards. During the game last night, Pierre McGuire asked Lindy about Miller and the "plan", and Ruff gave a pretty good non-answer of how it depends how the team is going, it depends how many shots Miller has to face, it depends how the back up plays etc. So I was left thinking "There really is no 'plan'; just an idea that we'd like to rest Miller, but we know the team loses every time we do that." Who could you start Lalime against? Carolina maybe? And what happens if he loses a cream puff game like that? And then the TSN crew said something like this (only somewhat tongue in cheek) "Miller is the goalie for the USA; Ruff is an assistant coach with Canada; he should play Miller every game until he drops from exhaustion just before the Olympics."

[TJ]

Grier will obviously be missed on the PK but I like that Ruff recognizes that Kaleta can be a suitable fill-in short term. He certainly hustles on every shift and is underrated defensively - and can also do a decent job of penalty-killing. Letting Mair play on the 4th line keeps that as an energy line.

With Lalime, we'll see if Ruff uses him Saturday. More than likely, we'll end up seeing Miller play both games - again - this weekend on the road to being overworked again this season. All this talk Ruff gives about a "plan" to rest Miller and use the back-up more this season seems like a smokescreen for his lack of faith in his other goalies.

[buffalo hater]

O MY GOD the sabres are soooooooo good, stanley cup here we come!! not its buffalo everybody, at the end of the day you know they will blow it somehow, they always do.

LOVE ALWAYS
buffalo hater

[Roetzer]

Bring Mair in so he can run Kipper or else we wont get by that human wall

[CalgarySabre2]

I'd like to see them give Mair a chance on Friday, especially if Grier is not 100%. Game is on Sportsnet out here, so we will be spared Pierre McGuire (but have to endure Charlie Simmer). Prospect update: Brayden McNabb had 16 points in 16 games but is now out 3 - 5 weeks with a knee injury. Big part of the Kootenay D; Hitmen beat them 7 -2 yesterday (in a game in which Kootenay had a 2 - 0 lead. LOL)