Sabres LW Vanek to miss at least three weeks

Feb 8, 2009 - 10:36 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Buffalo Sabres All-Star left wing Thomas Vanek underwent surgery on his fractured jaw on Sunday and is expected to miss at least three weeks of action.

The Austrian suffered the injury during Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators.

With 7:52 remaining in the opening session, Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov unleashed a rising slap shot from the right point that hit Vanek directly in the face. The 25-year-old Vanek immediately skated off the ice and retreated to the locker room.

The 6-2, 208-pounder recorded 32 goals and 20 assists in 54 games.

Buffalo (28-20-6) currently holds the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 62 points.

Vanek also has been one of the most durable players in the NHL, playing in his 225th consecutive game Saturday, which had been the Sabres' longest current streak.

Prior to the injury, he had missed only regular-season game in his four-year career, and that came when he was a healthy scratch in Toronto on April 3, 2006.

Drafted fifth overall in 2003, Vanek has registered 136 goals and 112 assists in 299 career contests.