Sabres D Numminen Expects to Return for Game 5

[SabreEleven]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Injured Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen expects to return for Game 5 on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.
Numminen was hopeful after spending 30 minutes skating Saturday, saying it was his strongest session since hurting his groin in the first period of Game 1 of the series May 20.
"It's the first time the leg feels strong, I could kick with it. Yeah, it feels better," Numminen said.


http://sports.iwon.com/news/05272006/v5512.html
(http://sports.iwon.com/news/05272006/v5512.html)

Hopefully he'll be effective.......

[SpillerThrills]

that is very good news

[Michael82]

:bf1:

Next up, someone needs to let Connolly know we need him bigtime. :pray:

[RockStar36]

Fantastic

[The_Philster]

that is very good news
not really. :idunno:


















..I'd call it great news myself :biggrin:

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Injured Buffalo Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen expects to return for Game Five tomorrow against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final.

Numminen said today's half-hour skate was his strongest session since hurting his groin in the first period of Game One on May 20th.
www.wgrz.com

[Ebenezer]

as I said before, I will believe it when he is standing in uniform on the bench or ice during the national anthem.

[YardRat]

Hope to see him back, and would love to have Connolly back in the line-up also. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still having headaches and seeing double, though.

[don137]

I will definitely be watching him in warmups tonight to see how he is doing...I just wonder how effective he will be...

[RockStar36]

Hope to see him back, and would love to have Connolly back in the line-up also. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still having headaches and seeing double, though.

I'm curious as to why it has taken him so long to come back. I know it was a rough hit but Umberger came back after one game off. Maybe his history of concussions is catching up w/ him? I hope not. He is def. a hometown favorite where I'm at.

[YardRat]

I haven't heard anything, just like everybody else, but I think it's safe to assume the fact that he has a problem with concussions is definitely a factor.

[SABuffalo786]

Ruff said Connolly's not coming back this series.

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Meanwhile, Ruff conceded the apparent on Connolly, saying he's out for no less than the remainder of the series. Before the start of the series Ruff had projected Connolly would return from the concussion he suffered early in Game Two against Ottawa.

"I'm not as hopeful," Ruff said. "He just isn't progressing as planned. I really thought that I would see him. Just being honest with you, I don't predict that now. He's had some symptoms but he's feeling a lot better. But not to the point where he's going to skate in this series."

Ruff left open the possibility of Connolly returning should the Sabres advance to the finals

http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060528/2057426.asp

[PUCKER]

It will help tremendously to get Teppo back.

[Typ0]

we have to win tonight or we are in serious trouble.

[SABuffalo786]

we have to win tonight or we are in serious trouble.


You could say the same thing for Carolina...

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

I said before this series started I felt that this series would go 7. This is what I'm thinking if we drop this game in Carolina today we come home play desperate hockey in front of our fans win it here and then go back to Carolina and win gm 7. I think we win it today though.

[RockStar36]

I'd say the winner of Game 6 takes the series, regardless of the outcome tonight.

[Ebenezer]

I guess he isn't ready :(

[don137]

I was looking for him in warmups and he wasn't even out there...

[Michael82]

I was looking for him in warmups and he wasn't even out there...
:mad:

[Ebenezer]

it's playoffs...

[PUCKER]

Well,when Ruff was asked if he had a chance to come back for game 6 he was less than optimistic. Damn. :(