Connolly now dealing with bone spurs

Jan 29, 2008 - 2:10 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Luck is certainly not on Tim Connolly's side.

With Connolly already suffering from a groin injury, the Buffalo Sabres on Monday discovered that the 26-year-old center will now be hampered by a bone spur near his hip, according to the team's web site.

"Tim was diagnosed with a bone spur and it's not really related to the groin," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's going to be something that he's going to battle through for the rest of the year."

Bone spurs are bony pieces that form along joints and cause pain or discomfort.

Connolly will like have the spur surgically removed after the season, meaning he will have to play through the pain for the remainder of this campaign.

"There's nothing you can really do about it except take it day by day," Connolly said. "I just have to get out on the ice and see how far I can push it."

Since the 2003-04 season, Connolly has missed 195 out of a possible 328 games due to injury. An abdominal strain, flu symptoms and the current groin injury have held the him out of 14 contests this campaign.

"It's extremely frustrating, that's the hardest part," said Connolly, who has five goals and 29 points this season. "It's mentally challenging whenever you get injured and whenever you miss a game."

A first-round choice - fifth overall - of the New York Islanders in 1999, Connolly has 68 tallies and 162 assists in 424 games over seven NHL seasons.