"Lindy Ruff sat alone in the stands Thursday, nursing his broken ribs while the Sabres practiced in First Niagara Center. It's a scene that will be replayed until the coach is healthy enough to return to the ice.

The Sabres, though, are hardly lacking in coaches. Buffalo expanded its staff this season, and there were still five assistants on the ice to coach and teach players while Ruff watched.

"The wealth of knowledge that we have hockey-wise out there for us is pretty unbelievable," defenseman Mike Weber said.

Assistant coach James Patrick again led the session, and he'll be the lead man on the bench when the Sabres host Dallas tonight. He was helped Thursday by assistants Kevyn Adams and Teppo Numminen, goaltending coach Jim Corsi and player development coach Dennis Miller.

"Everyone is extremely hockey smart," Weber said. "Obviously, you miss the veteran leadership of Lindy, but just like our team in here, they're all leaders and they're all coaches for a reason.""