Updated

The Buffalo Sabres will be without leading scorer Thomas Vanek for Thursday's game against the Florida Panthers due to an upper-body injury the left wing sustained in the club's last outing.

Vanek exited Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Tampa Bay early in the third period with an undisclosed muscle strain and has not participated in the Sabres' last two practices.

The eight-year NHL veteran is currently tied for seventh in the league with 16 goals and had both scores in Buffalo's 2-1 victory over Boston on Saturday.