PITTSBURGH — Senators forward Milan Michalek will miss the rest of the NHL playoffs because of a torn knee ligament that will require surgery.
Michalek had been playing with a brace to protect the partially torn ligament in his left knee.
Senators general manager Bryan Murray said the ligament was completely torn during the Senators’ 5-4 victory over the Penguins on Wednesday night.
Michalek needs an operation and won’t return until next season.
The Senators already were without another of their top six forwards. Alex Kovalev also has a torn knee ligament, and defenseman Filip Kuba has an injured back.
Michalek will be replaced by Ryan Shannon, who is healthy but has been held out of the lineup lately.
Hecht undergoes surgery on finger
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sabres forward Jochen Hecht underwent surgery on his injured left pinkie and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Hecht will be “out for weeks instead of days.”
Hecht missed the final three games of the regular season because of the injury, but had practiced the last two days. After the finger was examined Wednesday, it was determined surgery was needed.
Rookie Tyler Ennis will take Hecht’s spot in the lineup. Ennis played the final nine games of the season and had two goals and six assists.
Footnotes.
The Maple Leafs signed goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a $2.7 million, two-year contract extension. He finished with a 16-15-9 record and a .902 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average.
• Devils rookie forward Vladimir Zharkov, who has been out with an upper-body injury, practiced and is close to returning, coach Jacques Lemaire said.
