Buffalo Sabres Lose O’Reilly for Up to 3 Weeks After Appendectomy

The Buffalo Sabres injury curse continues to rear its ugly head with center Ryan O’Reilly out between two-three weeks, after having an emergency appendectomy on Christmas Day.

The Buffalo Sabres alternate captain joins Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo, Evander Kane and Tyler Ennis as some of the players to miss playing time with injury this season.

This is the second time this season that O’Reilly has been forced to miss time due to injury, with the Canadian having already missed six games previously.

Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said: “The initial part is 10-14 days of healing time on the procedure and the lack thereof of an appendix.

“It’s roughly that period of time of rest and recovery and then getting back on the ice.”

O’Reilly is currently fourth on the team in scoring with seven goals and 11 assists for 18 total points in 27 games played this season.

However, O’Reilly has struggled in recent weeks and has scored just once in his last 11 appearances.

More from Buffalo Sabres

• Buffalo Sabres and Victor Olofsson making progress on contract extension
• Buffalo Sabres still need goaltender help despite re-signing Anderson
• Buffalo Sabres: Time to close book on the Jack Eichel chapter
• Buffalo Sabres receiving interest in members of defensive core
• Buffalo Sabres focused on youth during another disastrous season

The team currently finds themselves seventh in the Atlantic Division with 32 points (13-13-8), although they picked up a 4-3 victory over fellow strugglers the Detroit Red Wings, on Tuesday night.

During the game, the Sabres made changes to their lines to accommodate the absence of O’Reilly.

Sam Reinhart will continue playing in O’Reilly’s center spot, moving from the wing, in between Zemgus Girgensons and Okposo.

The Clinton, Ontario, native also joins a number of high-profile NHL players that have needed appendectomies during the winter months.

Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn was out for two weeks, missing five games, after the procedure in January 2012.

Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty made a much faster return after his own procedure in January 2013, returning after just eight days.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford also missed time this season, returning to the team’s line-up this past Friday, after undergoing the procedure on December 3rd.

Fans of the team and all involved in hockey will no doubt extend their best wishes to O’Reilly and hope he has a speedy recovery.

Next: Alexander Nylander Needs The World Juniors

Sabres fans, how do you feel about O’Reilly’s injury? After the team beat Detroit, how do you feel they will cope without their star center?