SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Sabres are expecting a boost to their defensive corps tonight against Florida. Andrej Sekera is offically back after missing five games with pneumonia.
The return of Sekera, who has three goals and 13 points in 58 games, sends Brayden McNabb to the sidelines. The rookie is up on an emergency recall, so he has to sit with Sekera's return to health.
Left wing Nathan Gerbe will miss his second straight with an upper-body muscle strain. The Sabres' lines will be: Corey Tropp-Derek Roy-Jason Pominville, Marcus Foligno-Tyler Ennis-Drew Stafford, Ville Leino-Cody Hodgson-Thomas Vanek, and Cody McCormick-Brad Boyes-Patrick Kaleta.
Ryan Miller will start in goal against the Panthers, who will welcome forward Kris Versteeg and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov back to the lineup.
To hear coach Lindy Ruff's comments from the morning skate -- including his thoughts on players' moms joining the team on this trip and the smile he got from Brian Campbell's blast of Brad Marchand -- click the audio file below.
---John Vogl
Lindy Ruff
