Buffalo Sabres forward Cody McCormick will miss 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury, interim coach Ted Nolan said Monday.
McCormick, who has one goal and four assists in 25 games this season, played just three shifts in a 2-1 overtime loss against the Calgary Flames on Saturday. He was hurt blocking a slap shot by Flames defenseman Mark Giordano.
"He's fearless," Nolan said. "He puts himself in front of shots that are coming in 90 miles an hour and sometimes they hit you in the wrong spot. Unfortunately, that's what happened to Cody last game. But he's a tough guy. He'll bounce back and be ready to go in time when he's healed."
Nolan was also hopeful forward Cody Hodgson would be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets after he missed the game Saturday with a lower-body injury.
"I obviously want to play and I want to contribute," Hodgson said. "I think I can help the team, so I just have to make sure everything's good. But obviously I want to play."
Defenseman Alexander Sulzer, out with an undisclosed injury, could also make his return.