BUFFALO -- Jeff Skinner is week to week for the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured in a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday when he played 15:42, had a goal and an assist and didn't miss a shift.
Skinner didn't practice Wednesday and will be reevaluated next week. The Sabres are hopeful that it won't be a long-term injury.
"In one week, we'll kind of know how far this thing's resolved," coach Don Granato said Thursday. "When you're dealing with something like a broken bone -- this is not a broken bone -- you can put a timetable on it. This is a little different, softer tissue."
Skinner, who has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past eight games, leads Buffalo with 17 goals and is second with 33 points (16 assists) in 38 games, behind Casey Mittelstadt (35 points). He's also fixture on the top power-play unit.
The top line of Skinner, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who each has missed time due to injury this season, has been playing better lately, displaying the chemistry that led to an NHL career high in points for each last season (Skinner, 82; Thompson, 94; Tuch, 79).
"Obviously 'Skinny's a big part and he scores a lot of goals, so definitely a big spot to fill," Mittelstadt said. "We're going to have to do it by group. I think we've got a good forward group in here and a lot of guys that have been here for a little while, so definitely will take some guys to step up, and it's a good opportunity for some guys."
Skinner missed three games from Dec. 15-19 with an upper-body injury sustained Dec. 13 against the Colorado Avalanche on a hit from Nathan MacKinnon. The current injury is not the same as the one sustained last month.
"Skinny's is a big part of when we go, he's usually going," Granato said. "Yes, it's a big loss. We missed him in Vegas (5-2 win on Dec. 15) and the guys performed well. ... Guys just have to elevate and pick up."
In Skinner's absence, Mittelstadt played on the top line when Buffalo won 5-3 against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
Injuries have taken a toll on the Sabres' forward group this season. In addition to Skinner, Thompson and Tuch, Jack Quinn missed the first 32 games of the season while recovering from an offseason Achilles injury, and Zach Benson, Jordan Greenway, Zegmus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo each has been out due to injury.
Okposo returned Thursday after missing three games with a lower-body injury.
"Unfortunately, we're in that situation where it seems like when one guy returns, one guy goes at the exact same time," Granato said. "But I think that's a big boost having [Okposo] back in there. And, of course, you're going to miss Jeff. You've just got to pick it up."
