Leafs’ John Tavares week-to-week with lower-body injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that center John Tavares is week-to-week due to a lower-body injury sustained during a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The injury occurred after an awkward collision involving Josh Norris and Nick Paul took out the 36-year-old's legs. Tavares required assistance to leave the ice and could reportedly miss anywhere between one and six weeks, translating to four to 19 games.

Tavares had recorded seven points in seven games this season prior to the injury. In his absence, Easton Cowan is expected to move up to Toronto's second line, while Gavin McKenna will take Tavares' spot on the top power-play unit. The Maple Leafs currently sit sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 3-3-2 record.