Mon Jan 28 21:12:13 2008

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Sabres' Connolly dealing with bone spur

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Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Buffalo Sabres oft-injured center Tim Connolly has been diagnosed with a bone spur formed near his hip, head coach Lindy Ruff revealed Monday.

"Tim was diagnosed with a bone spur and it's not really related to the groin," Ruff told the team's official website. "It's going to be something that he's going to battle through for the rest of the year."

Connolly has missed 195 out of a possible 328 games due to injury since the 2003-04 campaign. He's dealt with concussions the last two seasons, while an abdominal strain and his current groin injury have interrupted Connolly's 2007-08 season, causing him to miss 14 games thus far.

There is no timetable for Connolly's return, according to Ruff, who said Connolly will likely have the bone spur removed after the season.

The Sabres did get some good news on the injury front in regard to right wing Maxim Afinogenov, who had an MRI on his injured groin Monday.

Ruff said Afinogenov, who has missed the last 10 games, was skating on his own and "well on his way to recovery."