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Sabres' Jack Eichel suffers high-ankle sprain in ugly fall during practice (Video)

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2015, file photo, Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (15) gets ready for a faceoff against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. Eichel was helped off the ice after hurting his left leg during practice on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. he was in front of the net when he got tangled up with a defensemen and his leg buckled beneath him. The injury occurred a day before the Sabres open the season hosting the Montreal Canadiens. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
FILE – In this Nov. 10, 2015, file photo, Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (15) gets ready for a faceoff against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)

While Sidney Crosby is back practicing with the Pittsburgh Penguins (in a no-contact jersey), the opening day of the 2016-17 NHL season is off to a rough start with a trio of stars going down.

First, we had the flu and Carey Price. Next, it was a lower-body injury keeping Patrice Bergeron out of Thursday night’s Boston Bruins opener. Now, it appears an ugly, ugly injury has felled Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres.

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Toward the end of Wednesday’s practice, Eichel got his left skate caught under him after tangling with Zemgus Girgensons. He fell to the ice awkwardly and had to be helped off by teammates.

Here’s video of what happened via Tom Martin of News 4 Buffalo:

That didn’t look good. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.

Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters that Eichel suffered an ankle injury and will be evaluated later this afternoon. Buffalo, who will already be without Kyle Okposo, hosts the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night in their season opener.

UPDATE:

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!