BUFFALO – Center Tyson Kozak’s season with Sabres could be over.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Friday the rookie will be sidelined week to week with a hip strain that forced him to leave Tuesday’s 5-2 road win over the Ottawa Senators.
The Sabres have eight games left this season, starting with tonight’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center. They play their final contest April 17.
“We’re running out of time for him,” Ruff said following Friday’s practice in LECOM Harborcenter. “So there’s a good chance he won’t play.”
With Kozak injured, the Sabres on Friday recalled center Noah Ostlund, arguably their top prospect, from the Rochester Americans. Ostlund, 21, has a six-game goal streak with the Amerks.
Check back later for more on Ostlund.
The oft-injured Kozak, 22, could play again this season in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Amerks clinched their spot Wednesday.
“Week to week, which pushes him to the end of two weeks, which probably means he gets ready for that,” Ruff said.
Kozak has compiled three goals and five points in 21 games for the Sabres and eight goals and 14 points in 31 contests with the Amerks this season.
In other injury news, Ruff said center Josh Norris (mid-body, 10 games) and winger Jordan Greenway (lower body, five games) are both “progressing.”
Ruff said Norris skated on his own Friday morning.
“How long it takes, the plan is to still try to get both of them back in,” he said.