MONTREAL -- The Buffalo Sabres will be putting Patrick Kaleta back in the lineup Tuesday for their game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Kaleta was held out of Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals in what would have been his first game back after serving a five-game suspension for boarding Brad Richards of the New York Rangers. Kaleta voiced his frustration in being held out through the media following the team's morning skate Sunday and was reprimanded for doing so following the game by goaltender Ryan Miller.
Kaleta said he and Miller, former roommates on the road, have cleared the air and there’s nothing to be concerned about.
"We talked about it right off the bat," Kaleta said. "It was a little misunderstanding. Like I said, he's my brother. I have my blood brother at home, you say things, you fight. But he's my family. I've been his roommate for the past three years, we have an awesome bond together. I have his back 100 percent, no matter what happens."
Sabres interim coach Ron Rolston had suggested Kaleta may need to change the way he plays in explaining his decision to keep Kaleta out Sunday, but his tune changed somewhat Tuesday. Rolston said the decision was based more on wanting to keep his lineup intact following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, and that Kaleta needs to continue playing his physical style to be effective.
"He's got to play the way he is. If he doesn't, then we're taking away what he gives to the team," Rolston said. "He's just got to find the line that he can play on and below and not go over the line. But if you take away his game, then you take away him as a player, so we want that attitude out there."
Jhonas Enroth will get his fifth start of the season in goal for the Sabres, his second in the span of a week. Enroth stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 3-1 win against the Rangers last Tuesday.
For the Canadiens, Colby Armstrong will be promoted to the third line, with Lars Eller and rookie Alex Galchenyuk, and rookie Gabriel Dumont will be given a shot at center of the fourth line after playing on Eller's right wing the past three games.
Here is how the projected lineups for the Sabres and Canadiens look for their game Tuesday:
SABRES
Steve Ott - Cody Hodgson - Jason Pominville
Thomas Vanek - Tyler Ennis - Ville Leino
Drew Stafford - Jochen Hecht - Patrick Kaleta
Marcus Foligno - Kevin Porter - Brian Flynn
Tyler Myers - Christian Ehrhoff
Scratched: John Scott, Nathan Gerbe
Injured: Andrej Sekera (knee)
CANADIENS
Michael Ryder - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta
Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallagher
Alex Galchenyuk - Lars Eller - Colby Armstrong
Travis Moen - Gabriel Dumont - Ryan White
Francis Bouillon - Jarred Tinordi
Scratched: Tomas Kaberle
Injured: Rene Bourque (concussion), Raphael Diaz (concussion), Brandon Prust (shoulder), Yannick Weber (knee)