Rasmus Ristolainen will miss tonight’s road tilt against the Dallas Stars with an upper-body injury, meaning four of the Buffalo Sabres’ top defensemen are now injured.
Ristolainen, the NHL’s leader in ice time with 27 minutes, 10 seconds a game, is day-to-day, Sabres coach Phil Housley told reporters in Dallas. The Finn was hurt in Thursday’s 5-4 road win against the Arizona Coyotes.
With Ristolainen out, the Sabres will dress defenseman Taylor Fedun, who has played two games this season. Rookie Victor Antipin will take Ristolainen’s spot on the power play, according to reports. Justin Falk, who made his season debut Thursday after getting injured late in the preseason, will take Ristolainen’s spot beside defenseman Marco Scandella.
Ristolainen, 23, has zero goals and five assists in 13 games this season.
The Sabres are also missing defensemen Nathan Beaulieu (upper body), Zach Bogosian (lower body) and Josh Gorges (lower body).