The Rolston era is upon us.

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Gerbe
Mark Pysyk has played five games. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:28:13
Florida Panthers, Flynn, Gerbe, Pysyk, Rolston, Scott, Sekera, Stafford, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
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While interim Buffalo Sabres coach Ron Rolston wouldn’t confirm it, defenseman Andrej Sekera, out the last five games, essentially told reporters in Florida he planned to play tonight against the Panthers following a five-game absence.

Slick winger Thomas Vanek (muscle strain) is out and struggling winger Drew Stafford, a healthy scratch the last two games, will return, Rolston told reporters.

Assuming Sekera returns, what should the Sabres do? Should Rolston simply sit rookie defenseman Mark Pysyk?

That’s not a given, Rolston said Monday. …

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Drew Stafford battled Clarke MacArthur (16) in his last appearance Thursday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:24:13
Ennis, Foligno, Gerbe, Hecht, Kaleta, Leino, Montreal Canadiens, Rolston, Scott, Sekera, Stafford, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

MONTREAL – In just 32 days on the job, interim coach Ron Rolston has quickly put his mark on the Buffalo Sabres, scratching five regular forwards.

Prior to Saturday, struggling winger Drew Stafford had escaped a benching, only receiving some fourth-line duty for his poor play. With a two-goal effort last Saturday and the shootout-tying score Thursday, it appeared the assistant captain would keep dressing.

But Stafford, who has only four goals and a team-worst minus-12 rating in 31 games, was a …

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Drew Stafford has struggled all season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:23:13
Enroth, Foligno, Gerbe, Hecht, Kaleta, Miller, Montreal Canadiens, Rolston, Scott, Stafford, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
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MONTREAL – Naturally, getting benched for tonight’s game against the Canadiens is disappointing, Drew Stafford said. The struggling Buffalo Sabres winger, who has only four goals in 31 games this season, hasn’t been a healthy scratch in years.

But the 27-year-old veteran, an assistant captain, understands why interim coach Ron Rolston will sit him.

“I mean, it’s no secret I haven’t been getting on the score sheet,” Stafford said this afternoon following Buffalo’s skate inside the Bell Centre. “But other than that, …

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Thomas Vanek has battled injuries all season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:23:13
Ehrhoff, Gerbe, Montreal Canadiens, Rolston, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

MONTREAL – When Christian Ehrhoff’s point blast hit Thomas Vanek squarely in the hip early in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime win here on Tuesday, the slick winger thought the worst.

“I thought he broke my hip because it was puck on bone,” Vanek said Friday after practicing inside the First Niagara Center, his first session back on the ice.

But the Sabres’ leading scorer has healed quickly. He felt good during the short skate and believes he can return tonight against the …

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Thomas Vanek has missed one game. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:22:13
Ehrhoff, Gerbe, Rolston, Sekera, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

BUFFALO – When Christian Ehrhoff’s point blast hit Thomas Vanek squarely in the hip early in the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime win Tuesday in Montreal, the slick winger thought the worst.

“I thought he broke my hip because it was puck on bone,” Vanek said this afternoon after practicing inside the First Niagara Center, his first session back on the ice.

But the Sabres’ leading scorer has healed quickly. He felt good during the short skate and believes he can return Saturday in …

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Alexander Sulzer played 17 games this season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:22:13
Ehrhoff, Enroth, Gerbe, Gragnani, Miller, Rolston, Scott, Sulzer, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

BUFFALO – When defenseman Alexander Sulzer caught his skate in a rut and twisted his knee early in the Sabres’ 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Feb. 23, the defenseman immediately knew something wasn’t right.

“I felt that something happened,” Sulzer said prior to the Sabres’ 5-4 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday inside the First Niagara Center. “It was really painful. I didn’t know how bad it was. But I could tell it didn’t feel …

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Nathan Gerbe skates this morning. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:21:13
Gerbe, Rolston, Scott, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – With slick Sabres winger Thomas Vanek too sore to play tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, either Nathan Gerbe or John Scott will return after being healthy scratches.

The two have three goals and six points combined, all from Gerbe. Vanek, of course, is the Sabres’ leading scorer with 14 goals and 31 points.

Scott, a hulking tough guy, will likely play after three straight scratches. The Leafs sport a lot of toughness.

Gerbe, a scratch last game, scored his three …

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Thomas Vanek will miss his fourth game of the season tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:21:13
Ehrhoff, Gerbe, Rolston, Scott, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Thomas Vanek will miss tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after taking a shot off the hip Tuesday.

Interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said Vanek is simply too sore to play.

“He’s better today,” Rolston said this morning inside the First Niagara Center. “He feels actually good. He’s starting the process. So we’re hoping to get him on the ice tomorrow.”

Vanek could play Saturday in Montreal.

Christian Ehrhoff’s hard point blast hit Vanek early in the Sabres’ 3-2 …

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Thomas Vanek (26) will be skating with Tyler Ennis (63) tonight. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:19:13
Ennis, Gerbe, Hodgson, Kaleta, Leino, Miller, Montreal Canadiens, Pominville, Rolston, Ruff, Vanek
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
0

In reality, the Buffalo Sabres’ top trio – Thomas Vanek, Cody Hodgson and Jason Pominville – should’ve been broken up or tweaked weeks ago.

Since roaring out of the gate as the NHL’s best line in January, the line has cooled off considerably.

Vanek, once hockey’s most lethal scoring threat, has only three goals and eight points in the last 15 games. Pominville has three goals and eight points in the last 19 contests.

Not the kind of production you’d expect from your …

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Jochen Hecht was recently scratched. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
03:18:13
Flynn, Foligno, Gerbe, Hecht, Kaleta, Porter, Rolston
Bill Hoppe     Olean Times Herald
1

Considering the Buffalo Sabres have lost two straight, six of seven (1-3-3) and rank 14th in the Eastern Conference with only 10 wins and 24 points, this shouldn’t be hard, right?

So, assuming the Sabres put agitator Patrick Kaleta back in the lineup Tuesday in Montreal, which forward should Ron Rolston scratch?

The Sabres’ interim coach didn’t want to bench anyone Sunday in Washington when Kaleta was eligible to play following a five-game boarding suspension. Of course, sitting a sixth game irked …

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