There was a new addition in Nathan Gerbe but the Sabres' injury list has a chance to shrink this weekend when the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers are here for games Friday and Saturday.
Cody McCormick (concussion) is expected to return to the lineup Friday and the trio of Paul Gaustad (upper body), Jordan Leopold (upper body) and Patrick Kaleta (groin) could all return as well.
Gerbe, however, will not as coach Lindy Ruff said he will be out with a concussion after taking a hit from behind into the glass from Philadelphia's Marc-Andre Bourdon on Wednesday night. There will be no NHL disciplinary hearing on that hit, but there will be one on Ville Leino's quick elbow to the head of Matt Read.
"I don't think there's any malicious intent on that or any great degree but I'm not surprised [there's a hearing] because it was a blow to the head," Ruff said. "Gerbe's I am surprised there's no hearing, I really am. That one really surprises me. He's defenseless, he gets hit hard, he's hurt. That one I can't figure out."
Leino met the media after practice and talked about several topics, including the chemistry he's building with Zack Kassian and Luke Adam, but would not comment on his potential suspension or the play itself.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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