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Buffalo Sabres News
All signs point to Tyler Ennis returning for Friday's game against Detroit as he is skating in practice today in First Niagara Center on left wing with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford.

Look for Ennis to draw back into the lineup for the first time since the seventh game of the season. He's still looking for his first point of the season but should start producing with regularity.

Tyler Ennis
Tyler Ennis, who is still recovering from Oct. 22 ankle sprain, practiced on a line but said he is not ready to return.

Ennis practiced on the fourth line yesterday morning but is not healthy enough to return. The diminutive forward has played only seven of the team's 21 games thus far. Look for him to help a banged up lineup when he returns.

Tyler Ennis
“We’re moving him along; most of it has been flow,” Ruff explains. “The next step will be stops and starts, really trying to dig in. That’s the area with an ankle sprain that you start to question. The step after that is to get involved in the one-on-one battles where it’s not only your weight, you’re going to be carrying somebody else’s weight.”

Certainly a step in the right direction for Ennis, who will have trouble regaining his skating stride due to a high ankle injury. Prior to the injury he was held scoreless over seven games.

Tyler Ennis
Tyler Ennis is set to practice with #Sabres for first time since spraining ankle Oct. 22. No timetable for game action.

Certainly a step in the right direction for Ennis, who will have trouble regaining his skating stride due to a high ankle injury. Prior to the injury he was held scoreless over seven games.

Tyler Ennis
"They both skated for about 30 minutes," coach Lindy Ruff said in First Niagara Center. "In Tyler’s case, no agility stuff, just basically lap skating."

Certainly a step in the right direction for Ennis, who will have trouble regaining his skating stride due to a high ankle injury. Prior to the injury he was held scoreless over seven games.

Tyler Ennis
Ennis, I think I’m seeing improvements quicker than normal High ankle sprains can take a long time but I seem to be moving along pretty good

Good news for Ennis owners, who are forced to look elsewhere for a depth LW. Prior to the injury the former 26th overall pick failed to register a point over seven games.

Tyler Ennis
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Saturday the club has assigned forwards Jonathan Cheechoo, Adam Cracknell, Philip McRae, Anthony Peluso and Brett Sterling, defensemen Ian Cole and Mark Cundari along with goaltender Ben Bishop to the Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Peoria Rivermen.

No immediate fantasy hockey value in the AHL.

Ben Bishop
"Right now, I think you're looking at an incomplete picture," Payne said. "They each played one good game. The second game that Brian got in, there was a goal there (that Elliott would like to have back).

Both Brian Elliott and Ben Bishop have a chance at taking games away from Jaroslav Halak. The 24-year-old posted a 3-4-0 record last season with a 2.77 GAA and .899 SV%. He would be the more high-end option of the two and probably would be called up if Halak was injured.

Ben Bishop
Brian Elliott may not be the Blues' No. 1 netminder — that job again will belong to Halak in 2011-12 — but his performance in training camp will be thoroughly evaluated as he competes with Ben Bishop for the backup job.

Whoever backs up Halak figures to play between 20 and 22 games. If your league counts games started or you are desperate for a goalie, monitor this situation.

Ben Bishop