Neither Patrick Kaleta nor Mike Grier were on the ice for Monday's brief workout at HSBC Arena. Coach Lindy Ruff offered no comment on their status. Andrej Sekera and Jochen Hecht both practiced but, again, Ruff skirited the issue of their availability. Hecht, believed to be recovering from a concussion, told me he hasn't been cleared to play . . . but that doesn't mean he won't be cleared. He's been skating the last nine days.
Kaleta's absence could well have been to diffuse the issue after Danny Briere claimed his was motivated by comments Kaleta made to him on the ice Sunday. Meanwhile, Ryan Miller expressed disappointment that Mike Richards escaped suspension for the Game Six hit that will sideline Tim Connolly for Game Seven. But he didn't dwell on the issue.
-- Bob DiCesare
tagged
Sabres
