PHILADELPHIA -- Defenseman Andrej Sekera and forward Mark Mancari will be the Sabres' scratches for Game One tonight. Mike Grier will play.
Sekera, who missed the final two games with an upper-body muscle strain but felt better following practice Wednesday, had a chat with coach Lindy Ruff then stayed on the ice for extra work after all the players who will dress against Philadelphia departed.
Mancari will give way to Grier, the veteran right winger who shined during last season's playoff series with Boston. Grier missed the final seven games of the regular season with a knee injury.
The Sabres' forward lines tonight are expected to be:
Thomas Vanek-Tim Connolly-Jason Pominville
Tyler Ennis-Brad Boyes-Drew Stafford
Nathan Gerbe-Paul Gaustad-Patrick Kaleta
Rob Niedermayer-Cody McCormick-Mike Grier
---John Vogl
