Lindy Ruff just addressed the media in his post game presser. I'm very confused.
The Sabres announced after the first period that Thomas Vanek would not be returning to the game due to an "upper body injury". Its plausible to think that Vanek was dinged when he was checked awkwardly into the corner wall on the last shift of the first period. I watched the replay three different times, and Vanek appeared to be in discomfort at the end of his last shift of period one.
Ruff, in his post game chat, said that Vanek was suffering from either food poisoning or the flu.
Ruff also expressed his disgust for the charging penalty that Pat Kaleta was assessed for his hit on Kulemin. I watched the hit five times and its bogus call. Call his opponent clean.
Ruff says of Kaleta:
Every time he hits somebody it’s a penalty. He can’t hit anymore. I’m worried. He’s definitely a marked a man"
The Sabres have lost 9 of their last 11 games.
They have scored only 11 goals in their last 7 games.
The injury occurred on the last shift of the first period when Vanek was taken hard into the corner glass by Dion Phaneuf. Vanek appeared to be injured after the hit, however, finished his shift in obvious pain.
Vanek did not answer the bell for period two. He skated only 6 shifts in the period for only 4:00 TOI.
You'll recall that Vanek was also injured in Carolina on Friday night when took a hard shot square in the ribs.
Perhaps the Phaneuf check has aggravated Vanek's rib injury.
Vanek has 19 goals and 21 assists in 42 games this season. Losing him will deal a crippling blow to the Sabres. He's been their MVP this season.
According to the team, Vanek will not return tonight,
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