Sabres' Moulson likely out through Olympic break

Buffalo Sabres forward Matt Moulson likely will be out through the Olympic break due to an upper-body injury.

Moulson left the Sabres' game Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes with 6:05 left in the third period after he was hit by the Coyotes' Shane Doan.

"He took a pretty good bang [Thursday] so it looks possibly that he'll be out till after the Olympic break," Buffalo interim coach Ted Nolan told reporters in Denver, where the Sabres are preparing for a game Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. "I think we only have four or five games left so it could be in the last part of it, but more than likely after the Olympic break."

The Sabres have four games remaining before the Olympic break.

Nolan said he wasn't sure if Moulson's injury came from a slash on the wrist or a cross-check.

"I was just hoping he got the puck in, then all of a sudden -- I watched it afterwards -- a little whack on the stick and a hit into the boards," Nolan said. "It was just one of those freaky things that happened.

"It's definitely an upper-body injury that's going to keep him out. He was pretty sore after the game [Thursday] but it doesn't look like it's really too, too serious. If he's a fast mender you never know."

Moulson has nine goals and 15 assists in 40 games with the Sabres, who acquired him from the New York Islanders on Oct. 27 as part of a trade for Thomas Vanek.