RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Veteran stalwart Jay McKee is out with a seriously infected cut on his shin, leaving the Buffalo Sabres down four regular defencemen for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final on Thursday.
Coach Lindy Ruff said after the team’s morning skate that McKee will not play and is still recovering at home in Buffalo. Ruff said the infection is believed to be the result of a cut that didn’t heal after McKee blocked a shot in the second-round series against Ottawa.
Click here to find out more!Ruff said he didn’t know whether to laugh or scream in frustration, his team already minus defencemen Teppo Numminen (hip flexor), Henrik Tallinder (broken left arm) and Dmitri Kalinin (ankle).
“He’s scared and we were scared for him,” Ruff said of McKee. “But you just let out that little chuckle that maybe that’s just the next step for us.”
The Sabres have overcome injuries during the regular season and in the playoffs, but Ruff acknowledged he’s never known of a team that’s lost four defencemen and a key centre - Tim Connolly, who’s out with a concussion - during one stretch.
“I can tell you one thing, this group has a way of battling through it and I have the utmost belief that we can do it again,” Ruff said.
McKee is the team’s top shot-blocker and best defensive player. He was a force in Buffalo’s 2-1 overtime victory on Tuesday. He logged more than 26 minutes of ice time - third most on the team - was credited with five checks and blocked three shots.
The severity of the infection caught the team by surprise. Ruff said McKee woke up in pain with his leg swollen early Wednesday and was treated at a Buffalo hospital later in the day.
Ruff said doctors are confident McKee’s condition will improve, but not in time for him to travel to Raleigh.
Ruff said Numminen will not play after he had a set back, limited to only 4:13 in Game 6 in his first game back after being out four with the injury.
Ruff said Nathan Paetsch will make his NHL career debut filling in for McKee. Paetsch would become the 13th Sabres player to also make his NHL career playoff debut.
Buffalo’s seventh-round pick in the 2003 draft, the former Moose Jaw Warrior had 11 goals and 39 assists in 72 games for AHL Rochester last season, finishing tied for third on the team in scoring.
.