Patrick Kaleta figures the disciplinary bosses in the NHL knew all about him before last week.

But now they know him on an official basis.

Kaleta, suspended for two games after boarding Philadelphia's Jared Ross on Friday, will

return to the Buffalo Sabres' lineup Thursday night when they host the Montreal Canadiens. He insists

he will be the same hard-charging forward HSBC Arena fans knew before the punishment, even

though the league will keep a closer eye on him now.

"I think I'm always going to be watched, just with my style of play," Kaleta said

Wednesday. "I don't ease up. I go out there and play the same way every single game. That's my

style of play, and that's what's gotten me here. Nothing's going to change."

Coach Lindy Ruff, though, repeated the phrases he's been uttering since training camp. He

wants more from Kaleta than hitting. He wants a player who can continue to score goals

(Kaleta's three are one short of his career high) and kill penalties.

"He and I have talked at length about different plays in the game and how he needs to play

them, and there's situations he's going to have to ease up on," Ruff said. "He's not going to

change what he brings to our team. That's the common ground. He understands that he walks a

fine line, and part of his strength to our team is walking that fine line."

Kaleta, while accepting of the league's decision, wasn't sure if he could have done

anything different on his hit.

"It's a hard question," he said. "If you slow it down on video, it's a lot different than

being full speed. I'm not a dirty hitter by any means. I take pride in my hits, and I take

pride in the way I hit."

The Canadiens can expect to discover that tonight.

"I'm fired up. I've got a lot of energy ready to go," Kaleta said. "I hate sitting out

games. Fortunately, we got the two wins, and hopefully I can come out and contribute."

. . .

Captain Craig Rivet participated fully in the Sabres' practice, but it's doubtful he will

return Thursday. He has missed two games with a leg injury suffered when he crashed into the

end boards against the Flyers.

"I'm happy with the way things are progressing now, and I'm hoping I can be back soon,"

said Rivet, who was in pain Tuesday but noticed a reduction in swelling Wednesday. "The way it

felt when I went into the boards, I felt it could be a lot worse. I thought I did a lot more

damage than I did."

Center Paul Gaustad, who injured his knee while hitting the boards against Philly, is still

at least a week away from skating.

. . .

Sabres prospect Luke Adam, picked in the second round of the 2008 entry draft, has been

named as one of 36 finalists for Canada's world junior championship team. The forward has 19

goals and 44 points in 29 games with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The

team will be pared to 22 following a selection camp, which begins Dec. 12.

. . .

Former Sabres goaltender Tom Barrasso was inducted to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame

this week. The Massachusetts native won the Vezina Trophy as best goalie and Calder Trophy as

top rookie in 1984 after finishing 26-12-3 with a 2.84 goals-against average for the Sabres as

an 18-year-old.

"When I look back now, I don't even know how it was possible to play on that level, but

that's one of the things I'm most proud of," Barrasso told NHL.com at the ceremony in Boston.

"It was also some of the most fun I've ever had, playing with grown men like Jerry Korab,

Gilbert Perreault and listening to their stories — things I'll cherish. There was no

pressure. No one expected me to be as successful as I was."