Sabres' Vanek may return sooner than expected

Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek may not be out as long as originally expected, and could miss only a few days rather than weeks of the NHL season. Coach Lindy Ruff said on Wednesday that Vanek's upper body injury from Tuesday's win over Detroit wasn't as bad as first thought. Following the game, Ruff said the Austrian would be out for "some time," referencing weeks as a timetable. "He's actually feeling a lot better," Ruff said. "He's doing remarkably well.