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Sabres getting healthier, Hecht and Boyes return tonight

Jochen Hecht, Tomas Vokoun

Buffalo Sabres’ Jochen Hecht, right, of Germany, celebrates a third-period goal on Washington Capitals’ Tomas Vokoun, left, of the Czech Republic, during an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

AP

It’s rare to get good news in Buffalo these days but today is one of those magical days.

Lindy Ruff made note this morning that both Jochen Hecht and Brad Boyes would return to the Sabres lineup tonight. He also noted that Thomas Vanek would stay in the lineup as well after missing part of their last game with an injury. Buffalo has been trotting out a host of minor league players to fill out ranks of late, but the days of doing that are dwindling as guys start getting over their ailments.

Hecht has been out with a foot injury suffered after taking a puck off it while Boyes has been out with an ankle injury. Hecht works out best defending against opposing top scorers while Boyes is a streaky scorer and power play helper.

Vanek staying in the lineup means the Sabres don’t lose their top scorer. For a team that’s having a hard time keeping opponents out of the net, losing the guy that keeps you in games would be a vicious double whammy.

Now if they can find a way to get Ryan Miller locked back in and find a defenseman to play his bodyguard, the Sabres might be a team to contend with this year.