Kennedy could move up
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tim Kennedy went 12 games without a point. The Sabres' forward finally snapped the skid Tuesday with a goal and assist, and it may have earned him a promotion.
Kennedy skated with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek today in St. Pete Times Forum. They may remain united for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, although coach Lindy Ruff is hesitant to break up the line that got Kennedy back on stride -- Kennedy, Matt Ellis and Adam Mair.
"You would hope that offensively he would be able to contribute, and I thought last game he was able to push through," Ruff said. "I thought Ellis and him and Mair might have been our best line. They created some opportunities, they got pucks deep, they kept the game very simple, and it led to opportunities.
"I thought our top lines made the game very difficult on themselves. They missed the net on good opportunities. They didn’t get it deep on back-to-back opportunities sometimes when we hit the line, which hurt the opportunities they were trying to generate. It just seemed the lines that got it deep were able to generate opportunities."
The Sabres' other lines had Tim Connolly between Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville; Mair centering for Raffi Torres and Patrick Kaleta; and Paul Gaustad in the middle of Ellis and Mike Grier, with Drew Stafford filling in. Stafford is still working to come back from a groin injury.
"He showed signs of not being ready [Tuesday]," Ruff said. "I thought today was a better practice. We’ll evaluate it. He’s a possibility for tomorrow, but probably more likely the weekend."
---John Vogl
