"The respite is almost here. Following tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres will have nine days off. With several key players bruised and battered, the break seems to be arriving at a welcome time.

Coach Lindy Ruff, however, has no desire to stop playing. The Sabres are 8-3-1 in the last 12 games, and Ruff doesn't want their best stretch of the season to disappear like nickels in the cushions as the players sit on their couches and watch this weekend's All-Star Game.

"We've been going pretty good, and you'd like to keep playing," Ruff said Monday. "We've closed the gap and got some games in hand on the eighth-place team, so I look at it that it would be nice to keep rolling."

The schedule and injury list dictate otherwise. The Sabres will head home after tonight's game in Scotiabank Place, and with the exception of rookie forward Tyler Ennis (who is participating in the All-Star festivities) they won't be on the ice again until Monday. The next game isn't until Feb. 4 in Pittsburgh.

By then, they should be healthier. Center Tim Connolly (hip) and right wing Patrick Kaleta (broken hand) both will miss their second straight game tonight. Left wing Thomas Vanek is expected to play, but he will be limited by an upper-body ailment.

"He's just going to have to deal with what he's dealing with," Ruff said. "The good news is the break is after [today], so that should help.

"The only person that's progressing is [Drew] Stafford. He skated [Monday], and if that went well he's a possibility."

Stafford has missed three games with a groin injury. The Sabres' second-leading goal scorer was the only player to take the ice Monday. He went to the rink while the rest of the team did a light, off-ice workout at the hotel. Ruff skipped practice to give a breather to his squad, which is closing a stretch of five games in eight days. The Senators figure to be fresh after sitting idle since Friday."