Maple Leafs announce John Tavares out on week-to-week basis

John Tavares, a key veteran for the Toronto Maple Leafs, will be sidelined week-to-week due to a lower-body injury, the team announced on Saturday. This designation could see him miss up to six weeks of games. Tavares left the game early in the third period against the Buffalo Sabres after an unexpected collision with Josh Norris on his lower body.

The Maple Leafs forward displayed discomfort and fell to the ice, remaining on the field in visible pain before being helped by a trainer to the dressing room. The 36-year-old has only missed 14 games in the past five seasons and played all 82 games last season, but is now following Chris Tanev onto the Maple Leafs' injury report as they prepare to face his former team, the New York Islanders, on Saturday Night Hockey. It remains to be seen who will fill Tavares' spot in the Maple Leafs' lineup.