AMHERST, N.Y. - Andrew Ference, sidelined for 11 games with a knee sprain, believes he might be able to return after sitting out one more match.
Coach Claude Julien said Ference could be ready to play tonight against Buffalo.
While player and coach might disagree by one game, the good news for Boston is that Ference is close to playing.
"I think his skating is definitely good," said Julien. "There's no issue with his skating or stops and starts, in battles or pushing off. We've gone this long without him. So we're not going to take a chance."
The Bruins have gone 6-4-1 without Ference, a positive achievement given that, when healthy, he has been one of the team's top three defensemen. Ference has averaged 23:20 of ice time per game, notching three assists while only accumulating four penalty minutes.
"I think he's a smart player," said Julien. "He competes. He's not very big. I compare him to a player I had in Montreal in [Francis ] Bouillon. Those are guys that are not big in stature, but they do play big. They compete every night. You've got [Zdeno ] Chara and his reach. He's big, tall, strong. A guy like Ference, he has to compete even harder because he has to go against bigger guys."
Ference, who also missed four games with an upper core injury, said he still can feel the knee when he's skating. But he said it's been helpful to ask teammates who have suffered knee sprains how they've played with the injury.
"It's good being around the guys," said Ference, who's been the regular off-ice workout partner of Shawn Thornton (broken foot). "We're getting sick of each other. I've had to see him every day of every week. It's tough, especially with the guys being on the road. It's almost like it's the point of time before training camp. You're working out, but you can't really do anything yet."
Auld good as new
For five months last season, Alex Auld's left leg was immobilized in a brace after he underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage in his left knee.
"Luckily it was my left leg," said the Boston netminder. "At least I could drive."
While Manny Fernandez has, so far, opted against surgery to correct his ailing left knee, Auld underwent his procedure in March to fix what was diagnosed as a hyper-mobile meniscus, meaning it was enlarged and would pop out of joint. Auld said the surgery tightened the meniscus. Auld, employed by Florida at the time, missed 22 games because of the surgery.
"If I played any other position, I probably could have played," said Auld. "But when I was fully flexed, it would lock up."
Auld has recovered from the procedure and does not have any limitations.
"Lot of rehab and physio," said Auld. "But there's probably not a better place to do that than South Florida."
Left-to-right switch
During Saturday night's 2-1 win over Toronto, Julien tweaked his third line, shifting Peter Schaefer from the left wing to the right side. Milan Lucic took over left-wing duties while Phil Kessel centered the trio.
"Schaef's been around a long time. He's capable of switching over there," Julien said. "That line has a little more physical presence with Lucic there. He's a young kid. We want to develop him in a positive way. He got some opportunities and a little more ice. He can play that role. I thought he had a couple good scoring chances from the slot. He played a physical game."
Lucic skated 13 shifts for 11:15 of ice time against the Maple Leafs.
His best chance came in the first period when he ripped a shot from the slot that was stopped by goalie Vesa Toskala.
Sobotka improving
Vladimir Sobotka (shoulder) was one of 11 Bruins to skate yesterday morning at the Pepsi Center, Buffalo's practice facility. Julien said Sobotka, who has sat out the last two games, might be ready for Wednesday's match against Atlanta . . . Toronto coach Paul Maurice described Saturday night's match as a "dog of a game," referring to Boston's trap and the lack of scoring chances for both clubs. "They've been playing the trap, too," countered Julien . . . Thornton skated yesterday but will not suit up tonight. "He's not at the point of feeling comfortable making sharp turns and stops and starts," said Julien . . . Bobby Allen (back) is still in bad shape, according to Julien, and most likely will not play tonight.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at FShinzawa@globe.com.
