The Sabres blue line has taken a hit with Cody Franson (neck) and Carlo Colaiacovo (lower body) unavailable for Friday's game, which means that Ruhwedel will slot into the lineup on the team's third pairing. This will be Ruhwedel's first appearance with the Sabres this season after playing in four games last year. An undrafted free agent out of UMass-Lowell, Ruhwedel is a steady two-way defenseman, even if a little undersized. Despite being named AHL Rochester's MVP the previous season, the 25-year-old's impact in the NHL is marginal.
