THE SIDELINES : Injury Sidelines Sabres’ Vaive

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres winger Rick Vaive is likely to miss the team’s next two games because of a rough check administered by Boston’s Bob Sweeney.

Sweeney cross-checked Vaive head-first toward the corner boards with 1:47 remaining in overtime during Wednesday night’s game, which ended in a 3-3 tie. Vaive appeared to avoid more serious injury by rolling his head to the side a second before impact.

After watching replays of the incident Thursday, Vaive said the NHL should strengthen its rules against back-side checking.

“I’m lucky I didn’t break my neck,” Vaive said. “Something like that should be a 10- or a 20-game suspension, cut and dried and that’s it.”

Sweeney received a minor penalty for the check. Vaive said he was not accusing Sweeney of malicious intent to injure, but said a back-side check should result in suspension even if it was accidental.