BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sabres forward Jochen Hecht will be lost for two weeks with a sprained ligament in his left knee following a hit by Toronto’s Darcy Tucker in the third period of Buffalo’s 3-2 shootout win over the Maple Leafs on Monday night.
Midway through the period, Buffalo’s Mike Grier flattened Tucker with a hard check just inside the Toronto zone. Tucker retaliated by going after Hecht near center ice, brushing Hecht’s head with his elbow while the players’ knees collided.
After the game, Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff lashed out at Tucker, saying he wanted the player suspended and fined. The league informed the Sabres on Tuesday that no disciplinary action would be taken.
“That really bothers me,” Ruff said following practice Tuesday. “I disagree with it. They agreed that his elbow grazed the head, and to me, that’s a shot to the head. When you’re going after somebody’s head, you’ve got intent to hurt. Don’t tell me the knee is accidental after that. He knew exactly what he was doing, and should pay a price for it.”
This will be the third time Hecht has missed time this season with a knee injury. The Sabres have won just two of 11 games they’ve played without Hecht, who has 18 goals and 42 points in 64 games.
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
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