Nathan Gerbe will be one recipient of ice time, moving from healthy scratch in two of the first three games to left wing alongside veterans Rob Niedermayer and Mike Grier. Gerbe scored three times during preseason, twice on the power play, and he will join the second man-advantage unit.
The Sabres' struggling power play, based on Tuesday's practice, will undergo multiple changes. Pominville's spot on the blue line for the first unit will be taken by center Tim Connolly, who will line up alongside Tyler Myers with Stafford, Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy up front. Gerbe will take Connolly's spot on the second power play, skating up front with Tyler Ennis and another new edition in Hecht. Jordan Leopold and Andrej Sekera will continue to patrol the back end.
The Sabres, losers of two straight, are just 2 for 15 on the power play and would benefit if the groups quickly meshed.

Because the Sabres have more left wingers than right wingers, Vanek will switch positions at even strength to fill the hole left by Pominville. Vanek is expected to skate on the right wing with Connolly and Ennis, the rookie who is more comfortable on the left side. Ruff thinks Vanek is actually better on the right side than his usual left.

Hecht will take Vanek's spot next to Roy and Stafford. The moves could last awhile because there is no timetable for Pominville's return.(buffalonews.com)