The Sabres got a late start to things today at First Niagara Center as Lindy Ruff's whistle to start practice didn't blow until 12:15, a full 45 minutes past the normal 11:30 a.m. start time. Pretty clear there was an extended video session/meeting going on.
Some quick news items:
---Ville Leino is not on the ice for practice. Matt Ellis is in his place centering Zack Kassian and Luke Adam. All other healthy players are skating and that includes Patrick Kaleta, whom the team hopes can play Friday night against Toronto.
---Ottawa winger Milan Michalek, who took over the NHL goal-scoring lead with his 19th of the season here last night, is going to miss tonight's game against Boston with a concussion suffered in his huge hit with teammate Erik Karlsson last night. Michalek played a shift or two after the hit and didn't return.
An aside here: It was classless for the Sabres to award the hit the nightly Carrubba Collision, both in house on the HD board and on its television broadcast. You don't make fun of injuries, especially in the era of heightened sensitivity for concussions. That's bush league.
---Defenseman Mark Pysyk, the Sabres' No. 1 draft pick in 2010, has been selected for Team Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships in Calgary and Edmonton.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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