OTTAWA -- Drew Stafford, who suffered a lower-body bone bruise during Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to Boston, will not play tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
"He's too sore today, so he won't be available," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said after an optional morning skate in Scotiabank Place.
The Sabres, down to 11 forwards, will not recall a player from Portland to fill Stafford's spot. Instead, Ruff will put Andrej Sekera in the lineup and choose either Sekera or fellow defenseman Steve Montador to play up front.
"We could go various ways," Ruff said. "Montador could play forward. Andrej's played some forward in practice, so we'll just use the option that is there.
"We're not going with seven D. That's too disruptive, so we'll use one of those guys up front, and if it works, it works. If not, we'll just go with 11 forwards and one defenseman will spot in and out."
Ruff would not say who would start in goal for the Sabres, but it appears Patrick Lalime will play for the first time in three weeks. Ryan Miller took shots from the handful of players on the ice while Lalime stayed off to rest. The opposite scenario would have played out if Miller was slated to start.
Lalime, a former Senators netminder, lost a 6-3 decision in Ottawa last season while making 30 saves.
---John Vogl
