Just one game into their 2016 NHL season the injuries are already beginning to pile up for the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres announced that left winger Evander Kane was hospitalized after a hard collision sent him into the boards during the second period of their 4-1 season-opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night. The incident occurred in the final minute of the period when Kane slid headfirst into the boards while attempting to skate past Montreal defenseman Alexei Emelin.
Kane remained down on the ice for several minutes as he was attended to by Buffalo medical personnel. He was then assisted off the ice and taken to a local hospital.
Kane was reportedly evaluated for multiple rib injuries. Further information on his injury status has yet to be released. Kane's loss is the latest blow to a Sabres' roster already reeling from a string of early season injuries. Second-year center Jack Eichel is expected to miss at least a month with a high ankle sprain, newly-acquired right winger Kyle Okposo is uncertain after sitting out the opener with a knee injury, and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, also newly-acquired, sat out the teams opener with an undisclosed ailment.
