On a normal day, defenseman Toni Lydman sits at his locker at one end of the Buffalo

Sabres' dressing room using his distinctive, droll voice to give some insight or perhaps drop

some self-deprecating quip on anyone who asks for it.

Lydman was there again after practice Thursday in HSBC Arena. But there was no smile. The

words were clipped, the answers cryptic. And there was a stare.

Before you heard his tone or listened to his carefully chosen words, you could see Lydman

was agitated. You could see he was furious at being a healthy scratch for the first time as a

member of the Buffalo Sabres.

Lydman and defense partner Steve Montador were both put in the press box for Wednesday

night's shootout win over New Jersey, with Nathan Paetsch and Andrej Sekera doing a solid job

in their place. Coach Lindy Ruff wouldn't say what decision he'll make about the defense pairs

when the Boston Bruins visit the arena tonight.

Parts of reporters' chat with Lydman on Thursday went like this:

Why were you scratched? Lydman: "I don't know where to start. It's a lot of things. Too

many mistakes."

Did you have any idea? Lydman: "Very surprised."

It goes without saying but can we assume you're unhappy about it? Lydman: "Yes. It does go

without saying but I'll say it anyway."

Did Ruff say it would be one game or more than one? Lydman: "Yeah, he did."

So do you expect to play tonight? Lydman: "We'll see."

The fact that Ruff sat Montador was no real surprise after the veteran's brutal game

Saturday in San Jose. But Lydman's benching was a shocker. Montador and Lydman had more tough

times Monday in Vancouver, with a late Lydman pinch and a failed cover by Montador leading to

Henrik Sedin's breakaway goal in the second period that infuriated Ruff.

"It might have been like the nail in the coffin if you will but I don't think it was just

that," Lydman said."

Probably wasn't. In the last nine games, Lydman is minus-5 and Montador is minus-4.

"Our game has been very subpar for a while as a pair," Lydman said. "We can only try to get

better."

"We've got to get them back in," Ruff said. "They're important pieces of our team. It's

tough. It's never an easy decision. You've got to make tough decisions some time.

"I think the message was loud and clear: We need better play. We could have won both games

in San Jose and Vancouver with that pair playing better. It's a good thing [Lydman is angry].

If you're happy when you're sitting out, you're in a bad place."

With veteran players usually, Ruff's tendency is one or two games at most and then the

player gets back in. It's how he's dealt with Drew Stafford in the past and how he dealt with

Henrik Tallinder last year when he was struggling.

It remains to be seen how Ruff handles this situation. Chris Butler, who is minus-12 on the

season, could be a candidate for a seat. Ruff said he didn't know if Lydman and Montador would

come back as a pair or as individuals. On top of that, Paetsch and Sekera both contributed

plenty in their first games since the calendar hit 2010.

Lydman has been a top shut-down defenseman for most of his career since joining the Sabres

for the 2005-06 season. He battled a groin injury earlier this season but said he's healthy.

Still, Lydman's struggles cast long-term doubt on how far the Sabres are willing to go to keep

the 32-year-old after the season.

Both Lydman (who makes $3.15 million) and Henrik Tallinder ($3.25 million) are unrestricted

free agents after the season. When it started, the Sabres clearly favored Lydman. But

Tallinder has been reborn with rookie Tyler Myers and has passed his former defense partner on

the team's depth chart.

Ruff has decisions to make on defense and at forward, where he scratched 13-goal scorer

Clarke MacArthur on Wednesday after his weak defensive play contributed to two Vancouver goals

Monday. MacArthur is also minus-12 and has just five goals since Dec. 1.

Said Ruff: "The one thing that's consistent in this league is that players are

inconsistent."

. . .

Tim Connolly was philosophical about losing his NHL-leading point streak Wednesday. It

ended at 16 games, two shy of Gilbert Perreault's franchise record.

"It was all right as long as we got the win," Connolly said. "That was the important thing,

especially after a long road trip and a few losses in a row there. To come home after a tough

day of travel and get a win against a team like that, it was a good game."

. . .

The Bruins are just 2-8-1 since their Winter Classic victory over Philadelphia on New

Year's Day in Fenway Park. They have lost four straight and have slipped to 10th in the East.