Sabres' Kane expected to miss weeks with cracked ribs

Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane is expected to miss weeks with three cracked ribs after taking a nasty spill into the boards during the team's season opener Thursday, head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed.

Related: Evander Kane taken to hospital after violent crash

Kane took the spill late in the second period of Thursday's contest in a race for the puck with Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin.

He had to be helped off the ice, and was taken to a nearby hospital.

The news gets worse for the Sabres, who earlier in the day announced that forward Jack Eichel would miss weeks after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in practice on Wednesday.

On the bright side after missing the opener with an ailing knee injury, forward Kyle Okposo will likely dress Sunday when the Sabres tangle with the Edmonton Oilers.