Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe out for season with knee injury

Things continue to go from bad to worse for the Buffalo Sabres this winter. 

Buffalo confirmed on Monday that defenseman Jake McCabe will miss the rest of the season due to injuries to the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee. As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the 27-year-old suffered the setback in the third period of Saturday's 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. 

Per Spotrac, McCabe is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the campaign. He now faces a recovery of six to eight months. 

McCabe has played only for the Sabres since he made his NHL debut in April 2014. He's recorded 18 goals and 59 assists in 353 regular-season games with Buffalo. 

It's the latest brutal blow to strike a Sabres team that has been without defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen for all of February because of a bout with COVID-19. Ristolainen hasn't taken the ice since Jan. 31. 

Buffalo started the month on a coronavirus-related pause and only returned to action on Feb. 15. The Sabres have 12 points and in last place in the East. They play at the New York Islanders on Monday night.