Sabres LW Vanek expected to return Wednesday

Mar 4, 2009 - 4:21 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres expect to have leading scorer Thomas Vanek back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.

The All-Star left wing has missed nine games since suffering a broken jaw February 7 in Ottawa. He was third in the NHL in goals with 32 when he was injured.

The Sabres hope Vanek's return can provide a boost for a team that has been having trouble scoring goals during his absence. Buffalo has gone just 3-5-1 without Vanek, managing only 20 goals.

"The plan is to get him back for Wednesday," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's a big plus. The question is how ready he's going to be. Can he answer the physical? Can he answer the conditioning? We hope he can."

The Sabres are 0-2-1 in their last three games, falling to 10th in the Eastern Conference - three points out of a playoff spot.

"It's always tough to watch the team, especially when they're not winning," Vanek said. "It's nice to get back and hopefully help out."