Sounds like Gaustad could be back for the Leafs game. Although the Sabres will still have a roster spot when Goose comes back with Butler on IR, they could decide to send Gerbe down. I think they should keep a full roster this season so they have enough players to run a proper practice. Vanek took the last one off for "maintenance".
Paul Gaustad is close to returning to the Sabres' lineup. The center, who has missed nine straight games with a knee injury, looked good while practicing with wingers Matt Ellis and Mike Grier.
"I don't think he's fully cleared yet," Ruff said, "but he's skating well and getting a lot closer. I would anticipate we get back home, he sees the doctor and they'll make a decision on him."
We'll see. Sometimes they think it's worse than it really is.
Looks perhaps better than was originally anticipated...
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Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday that Kaleta was suffering from neck pain and some vision issues. Ruff said there was no timetable for Kaleta's return, but that "doesn't mean he'll have to miss time.
Indeed. It's the same old injury which is both good and bad. It's starting to become a lingering issue, but it's probably better than a concussion at least.
Vanek will miss his second straight game tonight when the Sabres visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was struck in the abdomen by a shot recently and struggled through a few games with the ailment. Ruff told him half speed was no good and sat the left winger when the Penguins visited HSBC Arena over the weekend.
Quote:
"When I try to take off it doesn’t feel right, so we’re going to keep working on it. It’s better than it was two days ago, so hopefully it keeps progressing."
and Kaleta's neck is flaring up
Quote:
"He’s still hampered by the neck," Ruff said. "It was bothering him pretty bad the other night when he played, so he won’t be able to play. [Playing] didn’t make anything worse. It’s just not right yet."
On WGR this morning, Lindy said that Butler is close to contact drills and retruning and Gerbe is improving, but hasent skated at all, but could soon.
From TBN this morning -
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Defenseman Chris Butler skated with all his teammates for the first time since spraining his ankle Dec. 3.
"It's refreshing to get back on the ice, other than just watching games and riding the bike," said Butler, who took a light skate with a few players Saturday. "You're almost excited to bag skate and kind of get back in shape again.
"The frustrating thing is I'm fine walking around with no problems, but all the different pivoting and deflections with the skates kind of set it off again. It's night and day difference from now and when it first happened. I don't really have a timeline for now, it's just kind of get back in shape and do all the movements pain-free."
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It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
Ruff mentioned in one of his press conferences that Kaleta's got some sort of pinched/compressed nerve and that they're "trying to get it to relax". The nerve that runs down the back of the knee has caused some issues for guys like Mark Tinordi (blocked a shot, had a drop-foot for months). Could be that nerve, since he banged the back of his leg off the post on that backcheck/slewfoot on Johnson.
Do we have anything to worry about with Myers' face?
Quote:
Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers has a large welt on the right side of his neck but said after tonight's game he expects to practice Wednesday and play Thursday night in Carolina. Myers was struck by the puck when he deflected Daniel Paille's slapshot with 42 seconds left in regulation.
"When it first happened, I was wheezing a bit," said Myers. "But then it calmed down and I don't think it will be any more than some stiffness after tonight."
