Thomas Vanek is back on the ice and hope is growing the injured Buffalo Sabres winger

could play in games this weekend prior to the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Vanek missed his fifth straight game Tuesday with what's believed to be a groin injury but

went through many of the drills during the team's morning skate.

"Any time you miss some time, it's frustrating to watch but it's a good step to be back out

there and do some of the drills," Vanek said. "I felt pretty good. Obviously I didn't go 100

percent. I'm just easing into it but overall I'm happy with the progress."

Vanek has 23 goals this season, one off the team lead. He was injured while forechecking

March 27 against Tampa Bay.

"I battled their guy, I don't know if I stepped on his stick or something but I did the

splits," Vanek said. "And I don't do the splits. It didn't feel too good."

The Sabres have three games left in the season, beginning Thursday in Boston, and Vanek

said how he feels in practice today will make a big difference.

"It's so tough to tell with these things," he said. "Take it day by day, wake up and

hopefully you don't have more pain than the day before. I know how tough it is to come back

from injuries and if I can play a few games, that would help me out a lot.

. . .

Ryan Miller has played 68 games in goal for the Sabres this season and Tuesday's 40th win

equaled his career high. Buffalo is still trying to finish second in the East but how much ice

time will Miller see in the final three games?

Miller will certainly sit at least once this weekend (Saturday at Ottawa, Sunday at New

Jersey), and a night off Thursday is feasible too.

"For me it's going to be seeking out the right kind of rest so I can have energy moving

forward," Miller said. "I'd prefer to get a little bit of rest so I can get some goalie

practice in with [coach Jim Corsi] and some of the guys, make sure my energy level is high

enough.

"I have been pretty busy in the past few months, and when I have gotten breaks the schedule

dictates they've been on back-to-back nights. I think we had one circumstance where it wasn't

back-to-back, so I only really got that one time to get in what I really wanted to get done.

The rest of the time has just been management. I'm going to look for this week to be a little

management and also, obviously, not look past the three games."

. . .

Miller has been named one of five finalists for the Mark Messier Award, presented to the

player who "exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the

regular season."

Also nominated are Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner,

Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Washington's Alexander Ovechkin.

"I'm happy to be a part of that group," Miller said. "There's definitely some great

leaders. I especially look up to Jamie, being able to play with him a few months ago at the

Olympics. I'll just try and live up to the billing, I guess, keep things consistent here. It

does help to have a group of guys I've played with for a number of years."

Messier selects the three finalists and winner, but fans can participate by voting at

ultimateleader.nhl.com through April 11.

. . .

Toni Lydman's second-period goal was the 30th of the season by the Buffalo defense, its

most since scoring 32 in 2005-06.

"I was getting up the ice and there was actually nobody covering me," said Lydman, eyes

growing wider as he prepared to deliver a punch line to reporters. "I started yelling for

[Drew Stafford] and he made a great pass. Once again, I closed my eyes and shot it there and

it ended up in the back of the net."

eos

e-mail: mharrington@buffnews.com