Ville Leino (23) battles Toronto’s James van Riemsdyk earlier this season. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ted Nolan wants Sabres’ Ville Leino to ‘get dirty’ for goals

BUFFALO – In 431 minutes and 21 seconds of ice time in 29 games this season, Sabres center Ville Leino has only 22 shots on goal.

The Finn recorded his first shot in his seventh game. He has one shot in his last five appearances.

Not surprisingly, Leino, who’s always possessed a pass-first mentality, has zero goals this season.

I asked interim Sabres coach Ted Nolan this morning if he’s told Leino to shoot more.

“I told Ville to play the way Ville can,” Nolan said inside the First Niagara Center before changing his response.

Nolan said: “Here’s another guy with a tremendous amount of skill. But skill is nothing if you have no will to compete and battle and get dirty once in a while, and that’s what he has to do.”

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