Thomas Vanek News: Pro Sports Daily

Vanek practices but is doubtful for weekend

Comment

October 16

Buffalo News

"Bad news: It looks doubtful the Sabres' winger plays tonight against the New York Islanders and his status is probably the same for Saturday's game against Atlanta. Vanek skated as normal with linemates Derek Roy and Drew Stafford through the team's 40-minute workout in the Amherst Pepsi Center. He looked OK to most observers but not to the one who counted the most. "A trained eye saw differently," said coach Lindy Ruff. "He was getting through practice pretty good but to be fullbore he's a little bit of a long shot." Vanek was hurt in the second period of Tuesday's 6-2 win over Detroit. The Sabres have called the injury only an upper-body ailment but it's believed to be to Vanek's ribs. ..."

Vanek could return by weekend

Comment

October 15

Buffalo News

"Sabres winger Thomas Vanek could be back in the lineup this weekend after making drastic improvement Wednesday with an upper-body injury that initially was expected to sideline him for several weeks. Coach Lindy Ruff wasn't getting his hopes too high about his top goal scorer being available against the New York Islanders on Friday night but hinted that the veteran winger could be ready for the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday. Both games will be played at HSBC Arena. "Actually, it's good news," Ruff said after practice Wednesday. "He's doing remarkably well, which is good. I don't think it will be a very long period of time. I wouldn't even rule him out maybe for a game on the weekend for as ..."

Vanek could return for weekend

Comment

October 14

ESPN.com

"The Buffalo Sabres got great news Wednesday when they discovered star winger Thomas Vanek was not as seriously injured as first believed. Head coach Lindy Ruff feared after Tuesday night's 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings that Vanek would be out for "weeks" with what had only been described as an "upper body injury." But that diagnosis apparently changed dramatically overnight. "He came today a lot better. He may be available to play on the weekend," Ruff told ESPN.com on Wednesday. "Maybe not Friday, but Saturday. Although I'm not ruling him out for Friday, either." That's potentially a huge break for the Sabres, who can ill afford to lose Vanek, a two-time 40-goal scorer, for a long ..."

Sabres score seven in preseason finale

Comment

September 28

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres closed the preseason in exciting fashion Sunday night, rallying for a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Thomas Vanek's second goal of the game at 12:37 of the third broke a 5-5 tie, and Matt Ellis scored what proved to be the game-winner on a backhander 92 seconds later as the Sabres scored four times in the final 20 minutes to overcome a 4-3 deficit. West Seneca's Lee Stempniak scored twice for the Leafs, his second tying the game at 5 at 6:15 after South Buffalo's Tim Kennedy had given the Sabres their second lead of the game at 2:27 of the third. Kennedy's goal came 1:12 after Jochen Hecht's wrap-around shot tied it. Patrick Lalime ..."

Miller preserves Sabres' victory

Comment

September 23

Buffalo News

"The Buffalo Sabres' regular-season opener is still two weeks away, but it's already Miller time. In his preseason debut, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made 16 of his 42 saves in the third period as Buffalo rallied for a 3-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night. Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and Paul Gaustad scored third-period goals for Buffalo, which rebounded from Thursday's overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Roy and Vanek scored 2:21 apart against Detroit starter Jimmy Howard (17 saves). Gaustad scored into an empty net with six seconds left after the Red Wings came close to tying things. Miller prevented that from happening, making five stops in the ..."

Vanek poised to become part of NHL's elite

Comment

September 13

Buffalo News

"There's a difference between a star and a superstar. Thomas Vanek is a star. But since the first day he arrived in Buffalo, he's wanted to be a superstar. As Vanek began his fifth NHL season Saturday with the start of Sabres training camp, he made it clear he knows how to make the jump. He can't be just a 40-goal scorer. He has to be a lethal scorer on a team that makes the playoffs. That recipe will lift him to the elite status he craves and is primed to achieve. It will also make the Sabres a contender again. "Besides the goals, there's a lot more that comes with it," Vanek said in HSBC Arena. "What comes with that is taking your team to the next step and getting into the playoffs ..."