Photo: Bill Wippert

A pair of Buffalo Sabres centermen were absent from practice Thursday afternoon at the Amherst Pepsi Center.

Tim Connolly and Derek Roy were given a ‘maintenance day’ according to Head Coach Lindy Ruff following Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

		Lindy Ruff Interview

“The indications are that they should be ready to play [Friday night against Boston],” Ruff said. “It’s just more of giving them an extra day.”

Mike Grier was also kept off the ice, still recovering from a groin injury that has sidelined him for the last three games.

“He’s not as good as we hoped, obviously” Ruff said. “He’s at that same point where Toni [Lydman] was at where it doesn’t quite want to come around.

“You start feeling better and you start pushing it and it doesn’t quite come along. We’re hoping with a couple days off it gets stronger.”

Lydman has missed the last 11 contests with a groin injury. Ruff said he has not made a decision on whether the defenseman will be in the lineup Friday.