Miller misses Pens game

Associated Press

BUFFALO

The Buffalo Sabres were without starting goalie Ryan Miller and center Tim Connolly for their home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.

Both have groin injuries and were ruled out by coach Lindy Ruff after practice Tuesday.

Ruff said Miller is close to returning after the goalie practiced for a second straight day.

“He’s real close, but I don’t think he’ll be ready to play,” Ruff said, after consulting with Miller.

Miller missed his second straight game after playing through the injury during the third period of a 4-2 win over Los Angeles on Friday. Miller had gone 3-1 after missing six games with a hip injury.

“Today was a step forward. I’m not quite there yet,” Miller said Tuesday. “I’m just trying to be cautious now, knowing that I’m not that far off.”

The Sabres (8-11-3) play three games in four nights through Saturday.

Connolly’s status is uncertain after he was hurt during practice Monday. Ruff said it could take three or four days to determine a timetable for his return.

Before he was hurt in practice, Connolly was spotted with a black eye. Ruff said the black eye happened on Sunday, while Connolly was practicing a routine he was scheduled to perform during Miller’s annual charitable event in Buffalo.

“It’s fairly funny.” Ruff said. “It has nothing to do with fighting. It has something to do with what he was trying to practice for part of the program. And he wasn’t very good at it, obviously.”

Ruff was in a better mood after he erupted at his team for botching a power-play drill during practice. Ruff was so incensed he flung his stick high into the air, bouncing it off the glass 20 yards behind him, and then launched into a profanity-laced tirade.

“I just chose to get my point across,” Ruff said, before joking he nearly separated his shoulder by throwing his stick. “I think a little bit of complacency in that drill bothered me because our power play was making strides.”