Sabres forward Girgensons to miss at least 2 weeks

Posted February 25, 2015 10:00 pm

By JOHN WAWROW

Buffalo Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons (28), of Latvia, is helped off the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Buffalo won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) The Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The last-place Buffalo Sabres now have a rash of injuries to contend with.

The team's two leading scorers, Zemgus Girgensons and Tyler Ennis, are sidelined with injuries coach Ted Nolan announced Thursday, before Buffalo's home game against the Vancouver Canucks.

Girgensons will miss at least two weeks after being struck in the lower right leg with a shot in a 4-2 win at Columbus on Tuesday. Ennis is listed day to day after sustaining a lower body injury in the same game.

Nolan didn't provide any details on the injuries or a timetable on when either is expected to return.

Girgensons' prognosis was better than expected after he had difficulty putting any weight on his right leg while being helped off the ice.

The two players have scored a Sabres-leading 15 goals each on a team that has managed an NHL-low 107 goals this season.

"Right now, we're going through another tough spot," Nolan said, referring to how Buffalo has been hampered by injuries all season. "But the one thing I've never questioned on this team was the way the guys battle. We might not be the most skilled team in the league, but they work and they battle."

The Sabres recalled forwards Phil Varone and Zac Dalpe from AHL Rochester.

Buffalo (18-38-5) lost veteran defenseman Josh Gorges to a season-ending lower body injury last week.

The Sabres are also minus defenseman Tyson Strachan, who will miss his third straight game with an infection. Strachan has resumed skated, and could be ready to return next week.

"Everyone else is going to have to pick up the slack," center Cody Hodgson said. "You can't really replace those guys because of who they are. But we'll try to collectively help out."

On the bright side, defenseman Mike Weber is set to return after missing two games with an upper body injury.

Nolan isn't finished disciplining rookie defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who will miss his third straight game since reporting late to a team meeting on Sunday. Nolan credited Mark Pysyk for playing well since being called up from the minors to replace Zadorov.

"To pull him out is kind of unfair," Nolan said of Pysyk, who scored his second goal of the season on Tuesday.

Buffalo Sabres' Chris Stewart (80) celebrates his second period goal in front of Columbus Blue Jackets' Mark Letestu (55) and Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons (28), of Latvia, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Buffalo won 4-2. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) The Associated Press

Buffalo Sabres' Tyler Ennis, left, works for the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets' James Wisniewski during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) The Associated Press

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