Valoa tunnelin päässä
Tim Connollyn paluulle laitettu alustava aikataulu (WGR550.com, Lindy Ruffin haastattelu):
"We're basically going to have a set program for him and take it day-by-day."
"I've been optimistic for a couple weeks with the way he's progressing. I think there's always that fear that one day he'll suffer a setback. I'm happy for Tim. I'm glad that he's really starting feel well. It's been a long hard battle for him."
Ruff said there's a tentative timetable for Connolly's return, and that there are several variables, including the potential for the center to come back in a limited capacity.
"We're on a timetable that combined with strength training and on-ice conditioning. A guesstimate would be six-to-eight weeks," Ruff said. "It's about the team. If he can help the team in a limited role while getting back to where we need to get him back, that is a possibility. Would that shorten the timetable? That's possible. Weeks from now we'll have a pretty good indication of where he's at. If he can help our hockey team in a special teams role, or limited role... that's always an option."
While game action is well into future, Ruff said he expects Connolly to be with the team soon.
"Skating in a team practice in a non-contact sense for me should be a very short-term situation. Building up the strength and physical part, I think that's a little bit down the road."
Hieman epäilyttää tämä "limited capacity" - vaihtoaition tukijoukkoihin vai oikeasti pelaamaan esim. 9-10 minuuttia per ottelu?
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Illan matsiin Bostonia vastaan Sabres saa takaisin Henrik Tallinderin. Tallinder pelaa Lydmanin kanssa 1. pakkiparissa joten 7. puolustaja Nathan Paetsch siirtynee neloskentän laitaan. Tämän perusteella voisi olettaa että Andrew Peters on healthy scratch.
Maalilla aloittaa Martin Biron.
