Sabres C Connolly returns vs. Capitals

Nov 1, 2008 - 11:33 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- After missing his team's first 10 games of the season, Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly returned to the lineup on Saturday against the Washington Capitals.

The 27-year-old had been sidelined since tests revealed he had a hairline fracture of a vertebra in his back.

Connolly recorded seven goals and 33 assists in 48 games last season.

The Syracuse native, who was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 1999 draft, missed a total of 26 games last season with an abdominal strain, the flu and an injured hip. He sat out the entire 2003-04 campaign due to a head injury and appeared in just the final two regular-season games in 2006-07 due to a concussion.

The 6-1, 190-pounder, who was acquired from the Islanders along with Taylor Pyatt for Michael Peca on June 24, 2001, has registered 70 goals and 241 points in 438 career games.