Sabres' Dahlin out Tuesday vs. Canadiens due to upper-body injury

Why Dahlin is out

Rasmus Dahlin is why Sabres fans are searching right now. He left Monday's game against Florida in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. He had been running Buffalo's power play when he blocked a shot from the slot off a faceoff and went down to one knee, then skated to the bench in discomfort before heading to the dressing room.

Here is what is known. Coach Lindy Ruff confirmed Dahlin got hurt on that play and called him day-to-day. He will not make the trip to Montreal for Tuesday's game, the second half of Buffalo's back-to-back. Ruff said simply, "That rules him out for tomorrow." What is not known is the exact nature of the injury or a return date beyond Tuesday. The next update should come once the team evaluates him further in Buffalo rather than on the road.

The game he left

Before leaving, Dahlin had already put Buffalo on the board, scoring a power-play goal late in the first period for his second of the season. The game stayed back and forth from there, with both teams forced into goalie changes.

Florida starter Jacob Markstrom allowed two goals on nine shots before Panthers coach Paul Maurice pulled him. Maurice said afterward Markstrom "just tightened up," calling it "standard stuff" rather than a sign of injury. Akira Schmid took over and stopped 18 of 21 shots. Buffalo made its own switch, pulling starter Colten Ellis after he gave up two goals on nine shots in favor of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who made 13 saves on 14 shots. Noah Ostlund broke a 3-3 tie with a third-period power-play goal, and Tage Thompson added his fourth of the season to close out the 5-3 win.

Where the Sabres stand

The win puts Buffalo at 3-3-3 on the season, good for fifth place in the Atlantic Division. Florida sits just behind at 2-2-2, in sixth.

What happens next

Buffalo heads to Montreal for Tuesday's matchup with the Canadiens without Dahlin, who stays home for treatment instead of getting on a plane. Ruff put it plainly: "He'll be treated better here." There is no word yet on whether Dahlin will be available beyond Tuesday.

Facts per ESPN, ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.