Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner exited Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Nathan MacKinnon, the team announced.
The incident occurred in the second period as Skinner was carrying the puck into the Avalanche’s zone, when MacKinnon, on the back check, levelled him with an open-ice hit that sent him flying into the boards.
Skinner was able to leave the ice on his own and went to the dressing room. He did not return for the third period.
The 31-year-old has 12 goals and 22 points in 29 games for the Sabres this season. He was acquired by Buffalo from the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 in exchange for Cliff Pu and a package of draft picks. The season after being traded, Skinner scored 40 goals for the Sabres.
