The Buffalo Sabres' season was already off to a bad start with multiple players sitting out the home opener with injuries, but it got worse during Thursday night's game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Forward Evander Kane was taken to the hospital after a hard crash into the boards during the second period.
The play happened in the final minute of the middle frame. Kane had a full head of steam going as he tried to get around Habs defenseman Alexei Emelin. The Montreal blueliner got a stick in front of him and managed to cut down the angle. It was enough for the Buffalo winger to lose his footing and go crashing violently into the end boards.
This looks like it was just a freak play. Emelin made a very natural play for a defenseman and Kane just lost his balance and had no way of stopping himself. It all happened so fast.
Kane immediately was writhing in pain on the ice and remained down for several minutes as Sabres medical staff came to tend to him. He then went straight to the dressing room and was later transported to a local hospital.
Injury update: Evander Kane has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation and precautionary measures.
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) October 14, 2016
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reported that Kane was being checked for multiple rib injuries at the hospital. Friday morning the Sabres forward tweeted:
Thanks to everyone for their well wishes.
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) October 14, 2016
There have been no further updates from the Sabres about the injury.
Meanwhile, Sabres GM Tim Murray has to be wondering to himself what's next? The team has already lost rising star center Jack Eichel for an extended period with a high ankle sprain. Free agent acquisition Kyle Okposo sat out the opener with a knee injury suffered in a practice. Dmitry Kulikov, one of the team's key summer trade acquisitions, also missed Thursday's game with an ailment. It is unclear when the latter two will return, while Eichel's recovery timeline has Murray surmising he'll need six to eight weeks to heal. Now they have Kane's apparent injury to worry about.
As Buffalo looks to take big steps forward this year, they're stumbling out of the gates with some awful luck.
The Sabres lost Thursday night's game to Montreal 4-1.
