Sabres’ Evander Kane leaves game with upper body injury (Video)

Evander Kane had to leave the Buffalo Sabres season opener against the Canadiens after crashing hard into the boards. 

The Buffalo Sabres have been bitten hard by the injury bug to start the 2016-17 NHL season. Not only is new acquisition Kyle Okposo out, center Jack Eichel will miss at least six weeks with a high ankle sprain. Now they have another injury to deal with, as forward Evander Kane left the game in the second period. Kane left after crashing hard into the boards while speeding down the ice. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin knocked him down inadvertently and Kane hit the boards shoulder first.

Kane appears to have injured his shoulder. He was in a lot of pain and had to be helped off the ice. This looks eerily similar to what happened to Connor McDavid last season. McDavid missed two months with a clavicle injury, so Kane might have a similar injury.

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With Eichel out, the Sabres were already relying very heavily on Kane to produce. If Kane is out for an extended period of time, it could prove crippling to the Sabres and their already small chances of making the postseason. Last season, Kane had his first 20 goal season since the 2011-12 season. He also had 35 points and 15 assists.

If Kane is out for an extended period of time, the Sabres might make the decision to call up 2016 first round pick Alex Nylander. The Sabres can’t give up on their season quite yet, even with Eichel’s injury, so calling him up and giving him a shot makes sense. Buffalo is coming off a 35-36-11 season which saw them finish seventh in the Atlantic Division.