The shuttle between Portland and Buffalo could be a busy and full one this week as injuries have struck Sabreland.
Ryan Miller's sore groin got through practice today in HSBC Arena, though it's still not clear if he'll be able to play Wednesday when Pittsburgh visits. Miller's thoughts on his injury are available in the audio file at the bottom.
One player who will definitely be out Wednesday is Rob Niedermayer. The center had arthroscopic knee surgery today and will miss a minimum of two weeks.
"He felt it in the preseason," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We’ve left him off some mornings. He’s had some fluid that’s bothered him, that’s hampered him in his skating. He’s been trying to play through it and it hasn’t been getting better, so the decision finally was to try to relieve some of that."
Tim Connolly left practice early with a groin pull, and he is questionable for the meeting with the Penguins. Jochen Hecht, who has an upper-body injury, skated alone after his teammates were done but is likely to play.
Right wing Drew Stafford, who's out with a shoulder injury, skated with his teammates for the first time today. He won't play Wednesday but could return by the weekend. The Sabres host Toronto on Friday and visit Montreal on Saturday.
"We might have to recall a couple players, at least one and maybe two now," Ruff said.
---John Vogl
