Kane joins Eichel on Sabres’ shelf

Sabres forward Evander Kane is out indefinitely after cracking three ribs in Thursday’s season opener.

Coach Dan Bylsma said Kane will miss “weeks,” the latest misfortune for a team already without top-line centre Jack Eichel, who will miss several weeks after sustaining a high ankle sprain Wednesday.

Kane was hurt when he crashed into the end boards in the second period of Buffalo’s 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He was taken to hospital and released Thursday night.

While racing Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin for a loose puck in the Montreal zone. Kane reached for the puck when the two bumped. Kane lost his balance, fell and slid with his left elbow slamming into the boards. Kane doubled over in pain as he was escorted off the ice. Bylsma likened it to a car crash.

“It’s 25 m.p.h. going to a dead stop,” Bylsma said after Friday’s practice at KeyBank Center. “All the crash tests are done at, what, 30 m.p.h.? It’s 25 m.p.h. and he’s going in hard.” Bylsma didn’t blame Emelin. “They’re both going fast,” Bylsma said. “Evander’s a little bit ahead. Emelin jockeys with his shoulder to try to get in front. At the same time, Evander’s skate kind of goes.” LITTLE HURT: Jets forward Bryan Little is out indefinitely after a lowerbody injury in Thursday’s overtime win over the Hurricanes. Little collided with Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell early in the first period and did not return. RAKELL RETURNS: Forward Rickard Rakell agreed to a six-year, $22.8million deal to with the Anaheim Ducks. Rakell scored 20 goals for Anaheim last season while ranking fourth on the team with 43 points. The 23-year-old Rakell didn’t participate in training camp while unsigned and recovering from appendicitis, which kept him out of Sweden’s lineup for the World Cup.