Eichel out 4-6 weeks with high ankle sprain

The timetable for Buffalo Sabres All-Star Jack Eichel's recovery from the high ankle sprain he suffered Saturday night will be four-to-six weeks, head coach Phil Housley confirmed Sunday.

Eichel was injured during the first period against the Boston Bruins after getting mixed up with Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk behind the Bruins' net, going down awkwardly. He left the game and did not return.

The 21-year-old missed most of the first two months of last season with a high-ankle sprain as well. Last year's injury was to his left ankle, and this latest injury is to his right ankle, according to the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.

Housley isn't ruling out the potential of his superstar forward returning for the end of the season, as the team has not officially shut him down as of yet. But, with Buffalo languishing in the basement of the NHL standings basically all year, don't be shocked if the club does end his season sooner than later.

Eichel was in the middle of a career year before getting hurt, his third in the NHL. He made his first All-Star team and has 22 goals and 53 points in 55 games to his credit.