STAFFORD, LYDMAN NEAR RETURN
Monday, 11.16.2009 / 3:28 PM
/ News
By Erin Pollina
- Sabres.com
Drew Stafford was back at practice Monday afternoon at HSBC Arena after missing Saturday night’s 3-2 win in Philadelphia with a hip flexor.
Head Coach Lindy Ruff said he expects the winger in the lineup Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers.
With Stafford’s return Tyler Ennis - who scored his first NHL goal against the Flyers - was reassigned to the AHL Portland Pirates.
“He’s kind of different. He just plays,” Ruff said. “There’s no real nervousness in his game. He battled [Chris] Pronger, I thought he was going to outmuscle him. He did a lot of good things for an NHL debut.”
Toni Lydman also participated in the hour-long on-ice session. The defenseman has missed the last 10 games after suffering a groin injury.
“He’s had a couple of real good skates and today was probably the really first serious battle days,” Ruff said. “I would expect that he would be healthy probably by Wednesday too.”
Mike Grier was the only member of the team absent from the skate, still recovering from a groin strain he suffered last week.
Head Coach Lindy Ruff said he expects the winger in the lineup Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers.
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“He’s kind of different. He just plays,” Ruff said. “There’s no real nervousness in his game. He battled [Chris] Pronger, I thought he was going to outmuscle him. He did a lot of good things for an NHL debut.”
Toni Lydman also participated in the hour-long on-ice session. The defenseman has missed the last 10 games after suffering a groin injury.
“He’s had a couple of real good skates and today was probably the really first serious battle days,” Ruff said. “I would expect that he would be healthy probably by Wednesday too.”
Mike Grier was the only member of the team absent from the skate, still recovering from a groin strain he suffered last week.
