BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Nathan Paetsch is out indefinitely with a
concussion, leaving the Buffalo Sabres' depleted defense down a
third player in the midst of their final playoff push.
Paetsch will miss "a pretty good period of time," coach Lindy
Ruff said Thursday, a day after Paetsch was leveled by a vicious
elbow from Pittsburgh's Georges Laraque during Buffalo's 7-3 loss
Wednesday night.
Paetsch had just passed the puck from deep in his own zone early
in the second period when Laraque skated by and hit him with a
raised elbow. Paetsch lay face-first on the ice for several minutes
before getting to his knees. He was assisted to the Sabres dressing
room.
Laraque drew a five-minute penalty, was ejected from the game,
and could face further punishment from the league.
Paetsch was already sore, playing with a stiff neck after he was
checked heavily into the boards by New York Rangers' Sean Avery
during Buffalo's 3-2 shootout loss on Monday.
In his second full season with Buffalo, Paetsch has a goal and
seven assists in 54 games, but had gained additional ice time since
the team traded All-Star Brian Campbell to San Jose last month.
The Sabres, 1-4-2 in their past seven games, are stuck in ninth
place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind Philadelphia,
which holds the final playoff spot. Buffalo has 11 games remaining,
starting with a home game against Carolina on Friday.
Without Paetsch, the Sabres are down to five defensemen,
including untested rookies Andrej Sekera and Mike Weber, after
veterans Jaroslav Spacek (bruised ribs) and Dmitri Kalinin
(shoulder) were hurt Monday.
Kalinin is expected to return within two weeks, but Spacek could
miss the rest of the regular season.
Spacek told The Associated Press on Thursday he has a severe
bruise in the middle of his chest and couldn't provide a timetable
for his return because rest is the only rehabilitation for such an
injury.
Ruff said the team has not determined whether to stay with five
blue-liners or call up a player from the minors. He's also toyed
with the possibility of shifting play-making forward Jason
Pominville to fill in at defense, although that will depend on
whether Tim Connolly can play.
Connolly has been in and out of the lineup for the past two
months, nagged by bone spurs in his hip, and was held out against
Pittsburgh.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)