Buffalo Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve

The Buffalo Sabres have suffered a crushing blow in their pursuit of their first playoff berth since 2010-11. On Saturday it was reported they would place top-line right winger Alex Tuch on injured reserve with what is likely a lower-body injury, and the team confirmed the report by officially moving him to IR on Sunday morning.

The team has not yet confirmed the exact nature of Tuch’s injury, but Tuch left in the third period and was seen limping to the dressing room after the Sabres’ crucial 3-1 victory over their Atlantic Division rival Florida Panthers Friday night.

Tuch, 26, was in the midst of a career year as one third of the Sabres’ powerhouse first line with Jeff Skinner and superstar Tage Thompson. Tuch’s 28 goals and 62 points were already career highs and put him on pace for a 40-goal, 89-point season. Tuch has battled injury problems on and off throughout his seven-season career, having missed 32 games last season, primarily because of shoulder surgery. Tuch hadn’t missed a game yet this season until the news dropped this weekend that he’d land on IR.

The Sabres have recalled forward Vinnie Hinostroza from AHL Rochester to replace Tuch. The timing is unfortunate in their playoff push, as they play a key matinee Sunday against the Washington Capitals, who have lost six of their past seven games but are fresh off routing the New York Rangers 6-3 on Saturday.

The Sabres hold a 30-23-4 record, good for 64 points, one behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last Eastern Conference wildcard position. The Sabres have a game in hand on Pittsburgh – and a whopping five games in hand on the New York Islanders, who hold the top wildcard spot with 67 points but are in a shaky position having played an NHL-high 62 games.