Kings' Valeri Bure faces surgery to relieve pain

ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- Valeri Bure is expected to be sidelined at least eight more weeks after he undergoes surgery to alleviate lower back pain.
The procedure is planned for today and is scheduled to be performed by back surgeon Robert Watkins. The 31-year-old right wing hasn't played a regular-season game with the Kings since signing with them on Aug. 12.
In 621 NHL games with Dallas, Florida, St. Louis, Calgary and Montreal, Bure has 174 goals and 226 assists.
He and his wife, actress Candace Cameron, already had a home in nearby Malibu when Bure signed with the Kings.
Bure is the brother of Pavel Bure, a two-time NHL regular-season goal leader. Pavel Bure, forced to retire because of knee injuries, was recently selected to be the general manager of Russia's Olympic hockey team for next year's Turin Games.
Sabres
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, recovering from a broken right thumb, will begin a rehab assignment with Rochester of the AHL.
Miller was examined Thursday in Buffalo and cleared to play. He is expected to be in goal for the Americans today when they host Houston.
The Sabres' No. 1 goalie was injured while stopping a shot during the team's morning skate before a 10-4 loss to Ottawa on Nov. 2. He began skating a few weeks ago and started to block shots this past week.
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