BUFFALO, NY – Sabers forward Kyle Okposo will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken leg in his left cheek, the team announced on Saturday.
Okposo was injured after being beaten by teammate Matt Irwin in the first period of a 5-2 victory Thursday in Washington.
The 32-year-old Okposo joins a growing list of injuries for the last team, which is one loss because it is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and an NHL record of ten years post-season drought. The Sabers are already minus captain Jack Eichel, starting goal Linus Ullmark and defender Jake McCabe.
A 14-year veteran of the NHL who is completing his fifth season in Buffalo, Okposo, has two goals and 11 shots in 35 games this year.
Okposo played a valuable leadership role and was a stabilizing voice for a team that has gone through an unbeaten 18-game streak this season.
“Everyone looks up to him, so we’re definitely losing a lot of it,” interim coach Don Granato said before Buffalo hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins. “It’s bad that it happened and that he’s missed the season, but I’m definitely grateful we had him up to this point because he’s done an awful lot for us.”