When the Buffalo Sabres take the ice tonight in Carolina, there will be a familiar face on the Sabres bench.
For the first time in 2013, Nathan Gerbe will be in the lineup.
Gerbe missed the first two games this season after under going a discectomy last offseason. The injury occurred when Gerbe was crushed into the boards last December against the New York Islanders.
According to WebMD.com, a discectomy “is surgery to remove herniated disc material that is pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord.”
Matt Ellis is expected to be a healthy scratch this evening.
Also, the Buffalo Sabres announced this afternoon that forward Ville Leino has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to last Sunday.
This move clears a roster space for Nathan Gerbe to be activated.
As you may recall, Leino suffered a lower-body injury in one of the final preseason practices with the Sabres.
In accordance with NHL rules, Leino will not be able to be re-activated for seven days.
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