NHL

Sabres have a surplus at defense

LexisNexis Feed BuffaloNews
Share This Story

Updated Nov 18, 2009 10:31 PM ET
     
 
The Buffalo Sabres have too many defensemen and it's a good problem. Especially when Toni Lydman, the guy probably coming off the best season of any of them, is ready to return after missing 10 games with a groin injury. But it's not as simple as just plugging Lydman back into the lineup when the Florida Panthers come to HSBC Arena tonight. The Sabres won all three of their games last week without Lydman. They're 12-4-1 and the 32-year-old Finn has played in only four of the 17 games, none since Oct. 21. Lindy Ruff, like a lot of coaches, can be loathe to change a winning combination. It will be interesting to see what he'll do but Ruff wasn't tipping his hand Tuesday. "Toni is as close to ready to play as we're going to get him probably," Ruff said after practice in the Amherst Pepsi Center. No clue from that if Lydman was in or out. "We're going to discuss where we're at and make a decision [this morning] probably," Ruff said. For his part, Lydman said he knew he was ready to go when he survived the team's hard 50-minute practice Monday in HSBC Arena. "I've pretty much turned a corner I think," he said. "I skated [Monday] as hard as I've gone the last month. It was a good test and I felt all right out there today too. . . . To get through [Monday] was a relief for sure. It's been a long time and it's been frustrating." Lydman didn't have any idea if he'd get in the lineup, saying only, "I'll probably get my chance." The Sabres have another stretch of three games in four nights this week (Florida, Boston on Friday and at Ottawa on Saturday) so that works in Lydman's favor. But compounding the problem is Andrej Sekera -- the likeliest choice to sit so Lydman can get back in the lineup -- is plus-3 and averaging nearly 17 minutes over the last three games. It's easily been Sekera's best stretch since returning from a rib injury and Ruff was quick to praise him Tuesday. "He's been physical down low and his play in his own end has been pretty darn good," Ruff said. "That's where it all starts. You play good in your own end, take care of that and on the other end everything else will take care of itself." Nathan Paetsch is already a healthy scratch on the backline. There's no way Tyler Myers, Henrik Tallinder, Chris Butler, Steve Montador or Craig Rivet are coming out of the lineup. It's either going to be Lydman or Sekera. "You need depth with your defensemen," Ruff said. "Nathan has stepped in and played well. You're going to need seven, eight defensemen. When you're completely healthy, it's a little bit of an issue. "As soon as you get one or two injuries . . . it's desperation time. So we'll find a way to keep everybody happy." Thanks largely to the stellar goaltending of Ryan Miller, the Sabres entered Tuesday with the fewest goals against in the NHL (37) and a team goals-against average of 2.15 that was second to New Jersey's 2.08. But the defense has certainly been a factor too and Lydman can help. He was 11th in the league in blocked shots last year (166) and had an even rating while playing 80 of the 82 games. He has no points and is plus-1 this year. "The team is doing awesome and that's the positive," Lydman said. "But it's certainly not the place you want to be at gametime, watching it from the TV or the press box." e-mail: mharrington@buffnews.com
Tagged: Andrej Sekera, Toni Lydman, Sabres

Related Stories

Play Hockey Simulation Game on WhatIfSports


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NHL Videos

Highlights: CGY/SJ Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Watch highlights of the Flames' 4-3 win over San Jose.

Highlights: EDM/DET Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Watch highlights of Detroit's 4-2 win over Edmonton.

Highlights: BOS/BUF Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Watch highlights of the Sabres' 6-0 win over the Bruins.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 159.95 Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey
    Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 124.95 Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey
    Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue
    Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 54.95 Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt
    Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack
    Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 159.95 Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey
    Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 54.95 Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt
    Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 11.95 Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick
    Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Jose_Sharks/browse/featuredproduct/700543/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_700000/ff_700543_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black
    Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 59.95 Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft