Maxim Afinogenov (Photo: Bill Wippert)

The flu bug is still plaguing the Buffalo Sabres this week.

Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly and Jochen Hecht were absent from practice Wednesday afternoon at the Amherst Pepsi Center and Head Coach Lindy Ruff said the virus is beginning to take a toll.

		Lindy Ruff: Audio | Video
		Derek Roy: Audio | Video
		Dominic Moore: Audio | Video

“What’s really made it tough is that we keep having players fall out of the game on us,” he said. “Even last night we start the game and want to use Max, and after four or five shifts Max isn’t feeling well so we have to change lines. We haven’t really been able to put any lines together from game to game, due to the fact that somebody has come up ill.

“Max isn’t doing very good. Jochen is doing a little bit better than Max. Tim is just coming off going through it. He’s been a little bit drained so we decided to just keep him away today.”

Patrick Lalime and Derek Roy were among those who battled the flu last week.

“It’s definitely tough… especially when it’s stomach problems,” Roy said. “When you get hit throughout the game or try to skate or whatnot, it’s definitely tough. But no excuses this time of year… the other guys that are healthy have to step up and play that much harder. That’s what we need. We need a different hero every night.”