BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo has spent the past three days in a Buffalo hospital undergoing a battery of tests to determine an undisclosed illness that has sidelined him for more than a week.
A person with direct knowledge of Okposo's status confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the player is in the neuro surgical intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not revealed Okposo has been hospitalized.
Buffalo's WGR-Radio first reported the development earlier in the day before the Sabres played their home finale against the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Dan Bylsma would only say Okposo is with team doctors and tests have yet to pinpoint the cause of the illness (see full story).
Penguins: Letang to have neck surgery, out for playoffs
PITTSBURGH -- Kris Letang's goal in Game 6 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final clinched a fourth championship for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The talented but star-crossed defenseman will have a far different view as the Penguins try to defend their title when the playoffs start next week.
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The three-time All-Star will undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck and is out 4 to 6 months, rendering him a spectator as Pittsburgh tries to become the first team in nearly 20 years to win back-to-back Cups.
"Right now it's pretty hard to swallow," Letang said Wednesday (see full story).
Coyotes: Injury frustrates Doan in twilight of career
Shane Doan kept shaking his head and using the F-word.
"Really, really frustrating," he said. "It's really frustrating."
Doan had just come off the ice after an hour-long workout to stay in shape. The Arizona Coyotes' captain has now missed eight of the past 10 games with a lower-body injury, an absence made worse by the potential end of his NHL career approaching.
The 40-year-old is mulling retirement after 20 seasons and doesn't want to limp to the finish line (see full story).
