Zubrus out for Game 5

[Jimi7862]

(WGR 550) - Dainius Zubrus did not participate in the Sabres optional skate Thursday afternoon.
Head Coach Lindy Ruff says that Zubrus will not play Saturday in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Zubrus left Game Four with a lower body injury. He also missed practice both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Adam Mair, Paul Gaustad or even Ales Kotalik could replace Zubrus on his line but Coach Ruff said that he will not split up the line of Chris Drury, Tim Connolly and Derek Roy.

The Sabres trail the Senators 3 games to 1. Saturday's game at the H.S.B.C. Arena begins at 2. Mike Schopp and the Bulldog have the WGR 550 pregame show live from the Arena at Noon.

Stay tuned to WGR550 for the latest.




EDIT: Updated around 3 o'clock by WGR550. Instead of Zubrus OUT of the game, WGR has updated to saying Unlikely.

[TRIPLE P]

wasn't "his line" Him, Max, and Vanek?

Whos gonna take faceoffs?

Why can't Timmy play with max and big van????/

[buffalofan19]

wasn't "his line" Him, Max, and Vanek?

Whos gonna take faceoffs?

Why can't Timmy play with max and big van????/

He could, but I really like what Drury, Connolly, and Roy did together last night. I don't want to mess with it right now.

[Jimi7862]

wasn't "his line" Him, Max, and Vanek?

Whos gonna take faceoffs?

Why can't Timmy play with max and big van????/


I know what you're saying, but the Drury, Connolly, & Roy line scored two of our three goals last night. That I believe is the reasoning for not splitting up that line.

However, if things are struggling, we all know Lindy is not afraid to change lines during the game.

[TRIPLE P]

My concern isn;t that the Dru Tim Roy line isn't good....its clearly getting the job done... my concern is that on a Vanek, Max, Mair/Goose/Ales line you don't have a true set up man.... I guess Goose is good on draws, and mair is good at digging pucks and getting them to the front...assuming max does his own thing per usual, I think Mair and Vanek could do some damage if Big Van parks in front and Mair centers....

[Thumper]

Damn. I hope Zubrus is alright. I hope he's ready for a possible game 6.

I hope he's replaced with Stafford.

[Thumper]

Mair could center. Hecht could center. Gaustad could center. Even Kotalik could center (he's a center internationally).

[TRIPLE P]

I hope he's replaced with Stafford.

I kinda do too... but something tells me Ruff will play Paille... which might not be bad... he won't play alot of minutes and would be a PK specialist so he's be fresh.

[Thumper]

I don't feel like we need another penalty killer. Especially a rookie penalty killer playing in the Eastern Conference Final against that ridiculous Sens powerplay.

They killed 5 penalties in a row without Zubrus. We need more goals. Stafford has an easier time scoring than Paille.

I wouldn't understand it if Ruff picked Paille over Stafford. but Ruff know's way more than me, and I trust his judgment.

[TRIPLE P]

I don't feel like we need another penalty killer. Especially a rookie penalty killer playing in the Eastern Conference Final against that ridiculous Sens powerplay.

They killed 5 penalties in a row without Zubrus. We need more goals. Stafford has an easier time scoring than Paille.

I wouldn't understand it if Ruff picked Paille over Stafford. but Ruff know's way more than me, and I trust his judgment.

I don't have a problem with Pailles play killing penaltys as I think its more about hustle than anything else. But i would also prefer stafford...

Honestly though, anyone who plays is gonna play 7-9 minutes anyway...and Stafford has had success against the Sens this year...

But like you say...Lindy knows.

[matthew94]

hecht-briere-pominville
roy-drury-connolly
vanek-gaustad-afinogenov
kotalik-mair-stafford

[MauvaisSang]

I'd consider letting Connolly, Drury, and Roy take turns double shifting with Vanek and Max. You have to win this game - Put your best players on the ice for as long as they can stand it.

[Thumper]

Great idea.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

If this were the Zubrus from the first two series, I'd be very disappointed. However, Dainius -- because of the injury -- hasn't done much in this one. I'm hoping for Stafford, but I'm guessing Paille.

[SabreNasty2630]

What about Paetsch in for Zubrus? I know he played forward earlier this season, granted very little, but with Kalinin and Spacek not playing much last night, it gives you another option on D to keep Campbell and Tallinder a bit fresher. With that being said I believe it will obviously be Stafford/Paille, but it's just a thought I'd figure I'd throw out there

[Scary Good]

Roy-Drury-Connolly
Hecht-Drury-Briere
Vanek-Drury-Afinogenov
Gaustad-Drury-Kotalik
:)

[Carl J. Ironsides]

Roy-Drury-Connolly
Hecht-Drury-Briere
Vanek-Drury-Afinogenov
Gaustad-Drury-Kotalik
:)

Terrible. More like...

Peters-Drury-Conklin
Peters-Drury-Conklin
Peters-Drury-Conklin
Peters-Drury-Conklin

[Scary Good]

You're right

[Pondslider]

What about Paetsch in for Zubrus.

That's interesting. Ruff admitted they were only rolling 3 lines anyway, so even if Paetsch doesn't take a regular shift at forward you could at least throw him out there on the PP and still have Kalinin for the PK.

[stepsukie]

Oh damn...guess we'll have to call up our phenom....

[TRIPLE P]

What about Paetsch in for Zubrus? I know he played forward earlier this season, granted very little, but with Kalinin and Spacek not playing much last night, it gives you another option on D to keep Campbell and Tallinder a bit fresher. With that being said I believe it will obviously be Stafford/Paille, but it's just a thought I'd figure I'd throw out there

Wouldn't be upset.

[anEinherjer]

1. Stafford
2. Paille
3. Paetsch.

Meh. Pick one. :) I, for one, don't give a crap.

[stepsukie]

Staff has gotten better with every call up...hopefully...IF he is called up...he'll explode! Besides, Staff will provide more passion to the Sabres than Zubrus (no offense)

[Carl J. Ironsides]

The fact that Stafford has five points in four games versus Ottawa has to give him the edge.

[JLB]

The fact that Stafford has five points in four games versus Ottawa has to give him the edge.

Please Lindy give Stafford a chance. :rockon:

[MauvaisSang]

Stafford doesn't have to be called up. Rochester is done playing. He never left the team, he was just scratched.

[Maz]

(WGR 550) - Dainius Zubrus did not participate in the Sabres optional skate Thursday afternoon.
Head Coach Lindy Ruff says that Zubrus will not play Saturday in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Zubrus left Game Four with a lower body injury. He also missed practice both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Adam Mair, Paul Gaustad or even Ales Kotalik could replace Zubrus on his line but Coach Ruff said that he will not split up the line of Chris Drury, Tim Connolly and Derek Roy.

The Sabres trail the Senators 3 games to 1. Saturday's game at the H.S.B.C. Arena begins at 2. Mike Schopp and the Bulldog have the WGR 550 pregame show live from the Arena at Noon.

Stay tuned to WGR550 for the latest.




EDIT: Updated around 3 o'clock by WGR550. Instead of Zubrus OUT of the game, WGR has updated to saying Unlikely.

We need to call up Stafford!

[foster]

I think Stafford is more like Zubrus than Paille because of his ability to control the puck down low. In fact, his game along the wall is very similar.

I also think Stafford gives us more offensively than Paille and our up ice push and puck retrieval/retention is what is making life more difficult for Ottawa.

[Poz51]

I'd go with:

Hecht - Briere - Pominville
Roy - Drury - Kotalik
Vanek - Connolly - Afinogenov
Stafford - Gaustad - Mair

[stepsukie]

Put Staff back on his old line:
Hecht-Briere-Pommyland
Connolly-Drury-Afinogenov
Vanek-Roy-Stafford
Mair-Goose-Kotalik

[Carl J. Ironsides]

The Roy-Drury-Connolly line was too good to be broken up, in my opinion. I loved that trio.

[stepsukie]

The Roy-Drury-Connolly line was too good to be broken up, in my opinion. I loved that trio.

If that line stays intact..and barring no other changes in the lineup...either Max or Staff is gonna rough it on the 4th line.

[JFKDivisionChamps02]

Please Let Stafford Play!!! Cmon Hockey Gods!!! The Man Can Fill In Any Position You Put Him In!!

[Bay Side]

Lindy is known for playing 7 d-men, maybe Paetsch!!

[Losman791]

Hecht - Briere - Pominville
Roy - Drury - CONNOLY
Vanek - Stafford - Afinogenov
Kotalik - Gaustad - Mair

Stafford played with them during the season and i liked what do you guys thing and possibly the call up for paetsch and sit kalinin

[stepsukie]

Hecht - Briere - Pominville
Roy - Drury - CONNOLY
Vanek - Stafford - Afinogenov
Kotalik - Gaustad - Mair

Stafford played with them during the season and i liked what do you guys thing and possibly the call up for paetsch and sit kalinin

who centers the 3rd line?

[TommyV26]

Hecht - Briere - Pominville
Roy - Drury - CONNOLY
Vanek - Stafford - Afinogenov
Kotalik - Gaustad - Mair

Stafford played with them during the season and i liked what do you guys thing and possibly the call up for paetsch and sit kalinin

Roy Drury Connoly
Vanek Briere Pominville
Kotalik Hecht Afinogenov
Stafford Goose Mair

Hecht can hold down the center spot... hes done it before and can do it again.

[anEinherjer]

I don't know why everyone's getting all a-twitter about bringing these guys in.

Lindy's not going to let ANY of the three play more than 5-6 minutes.....

[JLB]

THIS IS WHEN WE THRIVE!!

We make changes (to our lineup) better than anybody because we have the right spare parts.

ZUBBY TAKE A DAY OFF WE GOT YOU COVERED! :rockon: