Getzlaf sprains left ankle, on crutches
Written by on February 9th, 2010 in Latest News.
Ryan Getzlaf sprained his left ankle in Monday’s 4-2 Ducks win. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf suffered a sprained left ankle Monday night, raising immediate concern about his availability for Team Canada at Vancouver.
Getzlaf, 24, sustained the injury in the second period of Anaheim’s 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
The Regina native skated gingerly to the bench and, though X-rays showed no broken bones, he reportedly hobbled out of Anaheim’s Honda Center on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
Getzlaf will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
“When you have everyone going and then lose a guy, it is tough,” said forward Corey Perry, a fellow Olympian who led the Ducks with one goal and two assists.
“You can’t really replace a guy like that because he has got tremendous skill and he is a huge body and he is a fantastic player, so it’s hard to replace him. But there’s guys who can step up and fill his role.”
Prior to being hurt, Getzlaf place Anaheim ahead 2-1, scoring his 15th goal of the season on a one-timer less than 3½ minutes into the second period.
He has 57 points in 55 games this season, his fifth in the NHL.
Getzlaf, who was drafted 19th overall by Anaheim in 2003, couldn’t participate in Team Canada’s summer orientation camp because he was recovering from hernia surgery.
But he was one of three members of the Ducks named to Canada’s limited Olympic roster, joining captain Scott Niedermayer and Perry.
“Hopefully, he won’t be out too long,” Niedermayer said. “I don’t have to say what he means to this team and what he does for us, so hopefully it’s not terrible.”
Canada faces Norway in its Olympic opener on Feb. 16 (4:30 p.m. PT).
With files from The Associated Press
