BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Dunne will be sidelined four to six week with a mid-body injury, coach Lindy Ruff said this morning.
Dunne, 27, was dealing with the injury before playing in Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, his first outing after sitting out three straight games as a healthy scratch.
After spending most of his career in the AHL, Dunne has given the Sabres valuable depth this season, scoring one goal and four points in 28 games.
Meanwhile, the Sabres this morning sent defenseman Zac Jones back to the Rochester Americans because defenseman Michael Kesselring, who has missed the last five games with a high ankle sprain, is almost ready to play.
Kesselring could return for Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
“In an emergency basis, Kesselring could play, and we’ll evaluate him for tomorrow,” Ruff said.
Jones has been perhaps the AHL’s most dynamic offensive defenseman this season, registering three goals, a league-high 29 assists and 32 points in 28 contests. He hasn’t played for the Sabres during his three recalls.