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The Buffalo Sabres announced this morning that defenseman Jake McCabe will be out three to four weeks after undergoing surgery on his thumb. The 24-year-old only played one shift in the second period against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night before leaving the game with an upper-body injury.
McCabe has 12 points in 53 games this season for the Sabres and is tied for the lead in goals by defensemen with three. The former second-round pick is third on the team in average time on ice per game this season with 19:30. That’s also good for fifth most on the entire roster.
This injury will give players like Casey Nelson and Victor Antipin the opportunity to see more ice time. Antipin has been in and out of the lineup all season. While Nelson has made a good impression on head coach Phil Housley since his call-up from the Rochester Amerks a few weeks ago.