BUFFALO – A hand injury will sideline Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour the rest of the preseason, the team announced this morning.
Montour, 25, was injured in the third period of Tuesday’s 4-1 preseason road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Sabres expect Montour, an acquisition from the Anaheim Ducks last season, to be a one of their top defensemen this year.
In 20 games with the Sabres last season, he compiled three goals and 10 points and averaged nearly 22 minutes an outing.
Update: Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said this afternoon Montour will likely miss some regular-season action.
“I wouldn’t expect him right off the hop (in the regular season), but pretty soon thereafter,” Krueger said.
Krueger wouldn’t say if Montour’s hand is broken.
The Sabres are already missing three defensemen: Zack Bogosian (hip), Matt Hunwick (neck) and Lawrence Pilut (shoulder). Hunwick is out for the season. Bogosian and Pilut will miss at least the opening weeks.
In other news, the Sabres announced defenseman Casey Fitzgerald and winger Scott Wilson are day-to-day with lower-body injuries.
