Sabres Edge

DETROIT -- Greetings from Motown, where the Sabres have recalled defenseman T.J. Brennan from Rochester in the wake of the injury Robyn Regehr suffered Saturday night on Long Island. The team is hopeful Andrej Sekera can return to the lineup tonight after missing eight games but Lindy Ruff told me yesterday that's still uncertain. The morning skate here at Joe Louis Arena doesn't begin until 11:30 so we'll have to see how Sekera holds up.

If Sekera can't play, the Buffalo defense would be woefully thin going against a Detroit team looking for its franchise-record 15th straight home win. Brennan, Joe Finley, and Marc-Andre Gragnani would make up half the D corps, which would mean plenty of ice time for Tyler Myers, Jordan Leopold and Mike Weber. Sekera, Regehr, Christian Ehrhoff and Brayden McNabb all out.

Holy moly.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

DETROIT -- The banged-up Sabres stayed off the ice today, like they often do on Sundays, and will skate Monday morning in Joe Louis Arena prior to their game against the red-hot Detroit Red Wings -- who will be trying to set a franchise record with their 15th straight home win.

I caught up to Lindy Ruff by telephone this afternoon and the Sabres coach had the following updates:

---Thomas Vanek's jaw and eye were evaluated and he has no broken bones in the wake of getting struck by a Jochen Hecht shot Saturday on Long Island. Vanek, who is still trying to overcome the flu, finished that game wearing a full cage and Ruff said he didn't know if that would continue Monday.

"That will be based on Thomas' own preference, on how tender the area is," Ruff said.

---Defenseman Robyn Regehr is staying on the road with the team but is likely to miss all four games this week with the upper-body injury he suffered Saturday night. Ruff is hopeful,  but not yet certain, that Andrej Sekera can slide back into the lineup tomorrow in Regehr's place.

---Jordan Leopold was also battling the flu last night but still managed to play 25 minutes, 41 seconds.  Tyler Myers (31:05) and Mike Weber (26:58) were forced into huge minutes because of the Regehr injury and the spotty play of Marc-Andre Gragnani and Joe Finley. The Buffalo defense was guilty of several grievous turnovers Ruff said simply can't happen.

"When you throw people into bigger minutes, you see how that can impact their game," said Ruff.  "We need better play. Our puck management has to be a lot better. We threw some pucks into the middle that were point-blank opporutnities. We won't be able to get away with that stuff [Monday]."

---Ruff is still mystified by yet another charging call against Patrick Kaleta, this one coming on what replays showed was a clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit of Islanders forward Andrew MacDonald. Kaleta scored Buffalo's first goal in the game and has three points in his last two games since Ruff said NHL officials have made the Angola native "a marked man."

"With his forecheck pressure and the way Pat can skate, he can turn himself into a weapon if he worries about the puck more than the hits," Ruff said. "There's obviously heightened awareness of any physicality from him.  Last night was a good hockey play with two players competing for the puck. Their guy was coming as hard as our guy. He protected himself at the same time and got the short end of the stick on it."

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

UNIONDALE, L.I. -- Sabres defenseman Brayden McNabb is still in Buffalo after suffering a possible concussion Friday night, so the team has called up blue-liner Joe Finley for tonight's game against the New York Islanders.

Coach Lindy Ruff, though, will have his eyes on defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Gragnani has played 9:03 or less in the last three games. With McNabb out, someone will need to play more. Ruff wants Gragnani to earn it.

"I need him to play harder defensively," Ruff said this evening in Nassau Coliseum. "His minutes went way down because his battle … we know what he can bring offensively, but his battle on the defensive side of it wasn’t good enough. He’s on the ice for too many scoring chances that he himself can do something personally about. The minutes dropped down.

"I think that was the reason he didn’t get here sooner [spending four seasons in the minors]. His battle was better last year when he got here, and it needs to get to a higher level because we’re at a desperate stage right now."

McNabb, meanwhile, is still feeling the effects of a collision with Toronto's Nazem Kadri.

"He’s still not doing well today," Ruff said. "It’s going to be a little bit."

The full audio of Ruff's chat is below.

---John Vogl

Owner Terry Pegula's words in this morning's Buffalo News resonated in the Sabres' locker room prior to tonight's game against the Leafs, with players saying they appreciated his support in the wake of the Sabres' disappointing season (If you missed more from Pegula too, be sure to check out Bucky Gleason's blog post).

"What I know of Terry since day one is that he cares," said Thomas Vanek. "He cares just as much as all the guys in here. He's been supportive. He showed that in the offseason and he showed that with this room [the team's multi-million dollar locker room renovation]. I think he knows it's tough when you have injuries but at the same time, we still have enough guys playing who can play better, myself included. 
It's good to hear that he's still behind us. I kind of knew he was. But we have plenty of guys in here to make plays."

Coach Lindy Ruff, armed with a longterm extension he signed in April, certainly appreciated Pegula's words too. But Ruff made it clear this morning he's ready to cast injuries as a reason his team continues to struggle.

"I still think nobody is happy. None of us are happy," Ruff said when asked about Pegula's comments.  "You want to win and you want to win through any circumstances. I feel that right now, we're healthy enough to win. We've got enough pieces back that we're not going to blow anybody out but we're going to have to win some tight games. Yes, that [the injury bug] was a big factor. Never before had we had the number out. But right now, we're close enough to win games. We can eliminate any other excuses.

"We've been in some tough situations but we're not the only team. We've talked as a team that now's the time. We're able to keep some lines together. I think our defense is playing well enough as a group now. It will all start in goal, getting a big effort in goal and moving out forward from there."

Ryan Miller returns to the hot seat to play the red-hot Monster, Jonas Gustavsson, in goal tonight in a rematch of Tuesday's 2-0 win by the Leafs.

Derek Roy, who missed Tuesday's game with a shoulder problem, will play but Ruff admitted he may spot other players on certain faceoffs in place of Roy. Matt Ellis is the likely scratch at forward. The Leafs canceled their morning skate and opted to simply hunker down at the Embassy Suites on Delaware rather than come to the arena.

Guess that's more time for Joffrey Lupul to tweet pictures and make Buffalo cracks. 

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

Terry Pegula addressed the state of his team during an interview Thursday, blaming injuries for most and practically all of Sabres’ problems. Pegula was asked several questions about other topics, but the conversation eventually turned back to fighting through the injury bug.

Here are a few other comments from the owner that didn’t make the story in today’s Buffalo News. 

On whether he understood the frustration fans were experiencing going into the second half of the season: "We’re keenly aware of the frustration because everyone in our locker room feels the same way –- coaches, everybody. Obviously, they’re not pleased with the way the season is going.”

After being told some people would view his comments about injuries as an excuse for poor play and other problems leading to the Sabres’ struggles the organization: “This is not an excuse. This is a fact of life. This is not your Buffalo Sabres. I’m not putting down the guys that came in. But guys like Corey Tropp, Colin Stuart, Zack Kassian, Marcus Folingo – they would have never come up to Buffalo this year unless something crazy happened. It’s the sheer volume, the names.” 

When asked whether his feelings have changed regarding GM Darcy Regier and coach Lindy Ruff: “My attitude is the same as it was at the beginning of the season. No. 1, the whole world thinks you’re going to get a star player for nothing. These other GMs might have been born at night, but they weren’t born last night. If you want to trade for a quality player or someone who can help your lineup, well, guess what? You might have to give your future away. As far as making deals, especially when they know your season isn’t going as well as projected, they try to pick you even worse.”

On whether the Sabres can rebound and make the playoffs after an 18-19-5 start for the second straight season: “It’s not impossible when you know you were 10-5 at one point. You know you can win hockey games. Obviously, part of what goes on, is that there’s new faces are in the lineup every night. Everybody says, ‘Well, the goalies are having a bad year.’ Sometimes, [the goaltenders] look in front of them and it’s like a revolving door.”

On whether the Sabres have looked stale at times: “I’m not going to say anybody is getting stale until we put the team together. They came out of the chute 5-1 and were looking pretty good.”

-- Bucky Gleason

The Sabres' Power Play Luncheon, scheduled for noon today in the First Niagara Center Harbour Club, has been postponed. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

---John Vogl

The Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, the second straight meeting between the teams. With less than two minutes to play in the Leafs’ 2-0 victory Tuesday in Toronto, Buffalo forward Nathan Gerbe had a skirmish with Toronto forward Joffrey Lupul, who had his helmet knocked off by a punch. Both players earned roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

"He said something when I was going to the bench, and I turned around and he just kind of popped me, but whatever," Lupul told Toronto reporters Wednesday. "He had 58 other minutes to play hard all game, and he didn’t. So it’s always a thing that makes me laugh, when a guy doesn’t show up for the game and then, with two minutes left, tries to make something happen."

Countered Gerbe today: "I don’t worry about it. My main goal is to win a game Friday. I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team. As far as the outside things that are said, it doesn’t bother me. It’s part of hockey."

Lupul, meanwhile, continues to tweak the city. He made a plea for "windowless rooms" at the Leafs’ downtown hotel during a visit last month. Upon arriving Thursday afternoon, he snapped a picture of the rainy waterfront and tweeted, "I'm a little upset none of my Buffalo fans told me to pack my beach towel."

---John Vogl

Join Buffalo News reporter T.J. Pignataro and a representative from MSG Networks to discuss the company's dispute with Time Warner Cable that has blacked out Buffalo Sabres games in 2012. Submit your questions and comments in the chat console below beginning Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Chat with Buffalo News reporter T.J. Pignataro and a representative of Time Warner Cable regarding the company's dispute with MSG Networks that has blacked out Buffalo Sabres games. Submit your questions and comments in the chat console below beginning Friday at 10:30 a.m.

The Sabres will have two players participating in NHL All-Star Weekend this month in Ottawa, with captain Jason Pominville being named to the All-Star team and forward Luke Adam getting selected as an All-Star rookie.

The All-Star Game is Jan. 29 in Scotiabank Place, while the Skills Competition is Jan. 28. Pominville will participate in both. Adam will take part in the skills event.

"It’s a pretty cool opportunity,'' Pominville said this afternoon in First Niagara Center. "It should be a fun weekend. I’m obviously excited. I’ve been used to having a little bit of a break, but I guess this year will be a little different."

Pominville is tied for 10th in scoring with 43 points, including 29 assists. Adam is tied for fourth among rookies with 10 goals and ranks eighth with 20 points.

"That’s pretty neat," Adam said of the selection. "To play in the NHL and then to be able to go and meet those guys and be in the skills competition, it’s a lot of fun. It’s an honor."

Thomas Vanek, who ranks 10th in goals (19) and tied for 18th in points (40), was not selected.

"It doesn’t matter," he said before the team was announced. "The people who know me, that’s not why I play the game. I’ll take the five days off."

The interviews with Pominville, Adam and coach Lindy Ruff -- whose team hosts Toronto on Friday night -- are below.

---John Vogl

Jason Pominville

Luke Adam

Lindy Ruff

Having covered the Sabres for 10 seasons, I can't even guess how many practices I've seen. Today it's everyone else's turn.

For the first time, the Sabres will conduct a live stream of their practice. The production will start at 11:45 a.m. on Sabres.com and last about a half-hour.

Sabres broadcasters Kevin Sylvester and Rob Ray will host the online broadcast. Fans will also be able to hear live audio from coach Lindy Ruff, who will be wearing a microphone.

Parents with young viewers should be glad Dmitri Kalinin is long gone. If anyone could make Ruff swear during practice, it was him.

---John Vogl

Lindy Ruff said today Derek Roy is likely to play Friday against Toronto. Thomas Vanek (food poisoning) did not skate today but Robyn Regehr, who was also felled by a meal Monday at the same Toronto steakhouse, was on the ice. Andrej Sekera continues to progress. Christian Ehrhoff returned in a non-contact role but will be out until at least next week.

The highlight of Ruff's presser was the continued discussion of the apparent target on Patrick Kaleta's back from officials. Ruff said Kaleta was "a marked man" after Tuesday's game due to his questionable charging penalty, and said Kaleta has to tinker with his game to not players while coming from a large distance.

"It is disappointing," Ruff said. "I don't think good hits should be taken out of the game. I understand there's a level of concern with what's gone on with concussions but you can't take good hits out of the game. We've asked Pat to tone it down.

Ruff admitted Kaleta is frustrated. 

"He's trying to do the right things, supply some energy when he can, trying to keep his feet on the ice when he hits," Ruff said. "Obviously, he's got a target on his back."

"I'm just trying to skate and use my speed," said an exasperated Kaleta, who gave short answers and was far from his usual self while talking to reporters. "I have to find a way [to play a physical game] or else I wont be here."

Click below to hear from both Ruff and Kaleta.

Patrick Kaleta

Lindy Ruff

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

Former NHL goaltender Greg Millen, now an analyst for Leafs TV and Sportsnet, got the Internet buzzing late in Tuesday night's game when he said that Sabres coach Lindy Ruff signed a seven-year contract extension last April. Ruff, of course, is beloved by owner Terry Pegula, and both President Ted Black and GM Darcy Regier maintain there is no coaching change on the Sabres' horizon. A long-term extension like that could be one reason why.

Presented with the Millen report by The Buffalo News after his normal daily session today with the media, Ruff strongly denied it.

"It's nowhere close to that length," Ruff said. "That's not true."

Told that two sources of The News insist the deal is for six years, Ruff also shot down that report. ""It's nowhere close to that either. It's a normal coach's contract. It's not a player's contract."

On the day it was announced, both Ruff and the team refused to reveal the terms, but it's long been believed to be for three years with an option for a fourth. 

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

The Sabres are on the ice for practice in First Niagara Center and leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who was felled yesterday by what coach Lindy Ruff termed food poisoning, is not on the ice.. Luke Adam is dressed on the left wing on the top line with Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville. Robyn Regher, who played just 29 seconds out of the final 14 minutes last night, is skating; he is also believed to have suffered food poisoning.

The other bit of news is that defenseman Christian Ehrhoff is skating in a red (non-contact) jersey in his first appearance with the team since being injured in a fight Dec. 30 with Washington's Troy Brouwer. Derek Roy, who sat out last night's loss in Toronto, is taking a regular turn on his line and is a good bet to be playing in Friday night's rematch against the Leafs.

The current lines are as follows:

Adam-Hecht-Pominville
Gerbe-Roy-Stafford
Boyes-Leino-McCormick
Ellis-Gaustad-Kaleta

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

TORONTO -- Following the Sabres' 2-0 loss to Toronto, coach Lindy Ruff described the Sabres' scoring slump as possibility the worst of his tenure. Ryan Miller, meanwhile, said although the Sabres have the same record as last year, it feels different.

To hear the interviews, click below.

---John Vogl

Lindy Ruff

Ryan Miller

The Buffalo Sabres have not met the high expectations set at the beginning of the season. They’ve reached the midpoint of the season with a mediocre 18-18-5 record. News Sports Reporters John Vogl and Mike Harrington report from First Niagara Center that the Sabres have reached a critical point in the season.

With the MSG/Time Warner dispute still percolating, the Sabres will hold another viewing party in First Niagara Center for Tuesday night's game in Toronto. Doors open at 6 and the game begins at 7 on the HD board, which will be lowered to an easier viewing height. Admission and parking in the arena ramp are free.

There were long lines last Friday night when a crowd of more than 5,000 showed up to watch the Carolina game, so the Sabres say they will have more concession stands open and staff on hand to serve fans. 

The team’s concessionaire, Delaware North/Sportservice, will be providing discounted food and beverage specials throughout the night and fans will get a a $4 coupon redeemable at all concession stands.  

The Sabres will have in-game promotions and Doug Allen will sing the national anthem to help simulate a home-game atmosphere. But don't look for these parties to continue at the arena: The Bandits have a game Saturday night while the Sabres are in Long Island, and Disney On Ice is here next week while the Sabres are in the Midwest.

Meanwhile, Rochester hockey fans with Time Warner Cable won't have to travel the hour or so down the Thruway to the Sabres' viewing party at First Niagara Center because MSG will hold its first viewing party in the Flower City.

MSG officials made the announcement today. Bathtub Billy's at 630 W. Ridge Road in Rochester will be the site of the party, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

The viewing party is free and open to the public. MSG Network will provide appetizers as well as prizes and giveaways for Sabres fans throughout the game and staff there will also help Time Warner customers find other television providers that carry MSG, if they're interested.

--Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)