Stafford improving, Butler likely to stay out
The Sabres practiced today for about 50 minutes in the Amherst Center and then took off for Atlanta to open a four-game road trip Tuesday night. Drew Stafford skated today in a non-contact role for the first time since suffering his groin injury and Lindy Ruff said he's rapidly improving and could play by this weekend.
Lots of people keep asking about a Chris Butler-for-Andrej Sekera switch but Ruff didn't seem too keen on it even though the Sabres lost both games over the weekend. I didn't particuarly think much of Sekera's game Saturday, especially when he lost awareness of Pavel Datsyuk on Detroit's first goal.
"We'll discuss that in Atlanta and make a decision," Ruff said. "It's still not an easy one because Andrej has been a big part of our power play and has really played well even strength. To change anything right now makes it tough."
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
