BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -Buffalo Sabres captain Craig Rivet will miss at least two weeks after having successful arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday morning.
General manager Darcy Regier made the announcement shortly before the Sabres (5-0-1) practiced to prepare for a two-game road trip that opens at Minnesota on Thursday. Regier did not say which knee Rivet hurt.
The injury, which wasn’t sustained during a game, gradually became worse as Rivet continued to play.
“It’s something that needed to be done because it wasn’t going to go away,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “He’s been hobbling pretty good.”
The veteran defenseman had an assist and logged more than 20 minutes of ice time in a 3-2 win over Boston on Tuesday. Rivet has three assists in six games this season.
“He’s disappointed,” Ruff said. “I have to give him a lot of credit for playing the couple games that he played, and to play as well as he did.”
bres’ games this year, will replace Rivet.
“It’s an opportunity for Nathan to step in and get some quality playing time,” Ruff said. “We just want to see him play solid defensively.”
A 14-year NHL veteran, Rivet was acquired in a trade with San Jose in July. He immediately made an impact in Buffalo with his physical play and was voted captain by his teammates.
“We’re going to miss him but you have to get through injuries,” Ruff said.
Rivet joins forwards Jochen Hecht (finger), Tim Connolly (back) and Paul Gaustad (thumb) on Buffalo’s injured list.
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