BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring, who left Saturday’s game after suffering a lower-body injury, will be sidelined “an extended period of time,” coach Lindy Ruff said.
“On the longer side,” Ruff said following Tuesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “Weeks.”
Kesselring, 25, left the Sabres’ 5-4 overtime win in Detroit after he hit Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie about halfway through the game. He took another shift later in the second period and one early in the third before departing.
The newcomer has been wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
Prior to joining the Sabres this season, Kesselring said he had never been injured. Now, he has gone down twice in seven weeks.
He also suffered a knee injury late in the preseason that kept him out of the first nine games. After returning, he registered zero points in nine outings.
Meanwhile, Ruff said winger Zach Benson, 20, will likely participate in Wednesday’s pregame skate after missing the last eight games with a lower-body injury.
“I talked to him this morning, he’s doing well,” said Ruff, whose Sabres whose the Calgary Flames.
In other news, Ruff said goalie Colten Ellis, winger Jordan Greenway and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson all had maintenance days from Tuesday’s practice.