The Buffalo Sabres' injury crisis got quite a bit deeper today as newly christened No. 1

goaltender Patrick Lalime missed practice with the flu and is questionable for Thursday

night's game at Carolina.

If Lalime can't go, 20-year-old rookie Jhonas Enroth would get his first NHL start. The

Sabres do not have another backup in their system as both goalies at Portland of the AHL are

injured and the Pirates are looking for two replacements for their games this weekend. Enroth

and Buffalo goaltending coach Jim Corsi manned the nets at practice Wednesday.

Coach Lindy Ruff said Lalime woke up ill in the middle of the night after playing in Buffalo's

3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Lalime made 18 saves in his first start after Ryan Miller

suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday night.

"[Lalime] wasn't feeling well so we kept him home today," Ruff said.

Asked if Lalime would play tomorrow, Ruff said, "That's a good question. Don't know. ... It

all depends on how well he's feeling. Maybe he'll be able to go, maybe he won't."

Lalime was scheduled to see team doctors and then be on the team's charter flight to Raleigh,

N.C., later this afternoon.

Enroth is 18-17-5 this year at Portland with a 2.71 goals against average and .915 save

percentage.

"It was very exciting to get up here and see Patrick practice and play," Enroth said. "To

be around the team is very exciting. It's going to be even more exciting, a dream come true if

I play."