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The big queasy Gilmour may not be able to stomach Game 1
Posted: Wednesday April 12, 2000 01:26 PM
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Sabres face opening the playoffs without Doug Gilmour, the veteran forward who played a key role in getting them into the postseason in the first place. A weakened Gilmour, battling a stubborn stomach virus that forced him to miss the Sabres' last two regular season games, did not practice Tuesday as Buffalo prepares for Thursday's playoff opener at Philadelphia against the Eastern Conference's top-seeded Flyers. Gilmour, being fed fluids intravenously, ate a full meal for the first time in four days and could practice Wednesday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. But even then, Gilmour may not be ready for game action as he's lost weight and hasn't been on skates since last Friday. "That (missing Thursday's game) is a possibility," Ruff said. "He's had one meal. I hope it was a good one. ... Actually, he's feeling better, which is encouraging." Gilmour caught the bug about two weeks ago but attempted to play through it. Last Thursday, in his last appearance, he recorded three assists in a 5-0 win over New Jersey. The following night against Pittsburgh, Gilmour participated in the pre-game skate before informing the coaching staff that he was too weak to play. He's not taken the ice since. Gilmour's presence has been key for the Sabres, who acquired him in a three-player deal with Chicago on March 10. In 11 games with Buffalo, Gilmour scored three goals and 17 points, 13 of them coming during a seven-game streak. As well, the Sabres went 8-3-0-1 with Gilmour in the lineup. Without him, Buffalo went 0-2-1-1, including Gilmour's first game immediately following the trade, which he missed because of bruised ribs. His offensive input has inspired the entire team. In the 11 games with Gilmour, the Sabres have averaged almost four goals a game. Without him, Buffalo scored four times in three games. "He makes everybody around him a lot better because the opposition has to worry about him every time he's on the ice," said Curtis Brown, Gilmour's linemate. "Right now it's tough. It's something you've got to wait out and hopefully the worst of it has gone by." Forward Miroslav Satan, who rounds out Gilmour's line, added: "Not only me and Curtis, but I think the whole team needs him. It's a different kind of hockey when he's out there." Gilmour's status aside, the Sabres appeared loose and relaxed during their first practice since clinching the East's eighth and final playoff berth in Sunday's 1-1 tie at Washington. Coach Ruff explained that the team should be loose, considering the pressure of the last two weeks - the Sabres went 7-2-1-1 in their last 10 games to merely get into the postseason. "It has been tense," Ruff said. "There has been a lot of pressure on us. So now the focus is, 'We're there now, work hard, have fun and just go right after it.' " Assessing the series, Ruff said the key for the Sabres is how their blue line holds up against a Flyers squad that's bigger and offensively potent even minus ex-captain Eric Lindros, expected to miss the first round because of a concussion. Ruff's hopes are buoyed by the recent play of All-Star goalie Dominik Hasek, who's returned to form -- allowing 12 goals in his last 10 games -- after missing half the season with a groin injury. "That was a huge piece of the puzzle for us down the stretch, the way Dom played," said Ruff. "I think that breathes all the confidence in the world."
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