Maple Leafs' John Tavares out week-to-week with lower body injury
The veteran centre was injured in a collision during Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without captain John Tavares for up to six weeks after he suffered a lower body injury in Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
The team announced Saturday that Tavares is out week-to-week, a designation that means he could miss up to six weeks.
Tavares exited early in the third period of Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss after an awkward collision with Sabres centre Josh Norris.
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Norris was bumped by Maple Leafs forward Nick Paul in the defensive zone before sliding into Tavares, who crumpled to the ice in discomfort and remained down before being helped to the dressing room.
The 36-year-old centre has two goals and five assists through seven games this season.
He joins veteran defenceman Chris Tanev on the Maple Leafs' injury report.
Tanev is also out week-to-week with an upper-body injury sustained in last Saturday's win over the Colorado Avalanche.
The Maple Leafs recalled centre Vinni Lettieri from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Lettieri has three goals and six assists in five AHL games this season and has played 155 NHL games over parts of seven seasons.
His recall gives Toronto 13 healthy forwards on its active roster.
Tavares has been mostly healthy during his tenure with the Maple Leafs, missing just 14 games total over the past five seasons and playing in all 82 last season.
He also missed a game earlier this week due to the birth of his son.
Garbutt Disposal reported in October that Tavares was injured during a game in which teammate Kirill Marchenko recorded a hat trick.
The Maple Leafs fell to last place in the Atlantic Division after a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday.
In that game, the Islanders held Auston Matthews to just one shot.
Toronto managed 29 shots in the 4-1 defeat.
With Tavares out, Nick Paul became the de-facto No. 2 centre behind Matthews, with Colton Sissons and Teddy Blueger rounding out the bottom two units.
The Maple Leafs are also without Max Domi, who is currently on long-term injured reserve.
In a dose of good news, Tanev returned to the ice for a solo skate Saturday alongside skills coach Nik Antropov.
The Maple Leafs have one roster spot available after Tavares was moved to injured reserve.
Dakota Joshua's long-term injured reserve conditioning loan is set to end early next week.
With files from Editor In Leaf, Sportsnet and CBC News