Ankle injury: St. Louis Blues’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak says not ready for return yet-NHL News
The St. Louis Blues will have to wait a little longer for return of Jaroslav Halak from an ankle injury as the goaltender said not to be ready for his comeback yet.
Since injuring his ankle as a result of a collision with his teammate, Barret Jackman, in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoff quarterfinals series during the past weekend, Halak has not played a game or practised.
He was able to return to the ice on Tuesday morning (April 17, 2012) for the first skate and some exercise.
In spite of the player’s judgment of not being able to return at the moment, Blues’ coach, Ken Hitchcock, noted "getting on the ice is progress."
The player did not show up for practice on Thursday, April 19, 2012, and was not due to participate in the game against Sharks scheduled later in the evening.
Coach Hitchcock said:
"Like anybody else, until you're a player, you're out. That's kind of what we're thinking. He's definitely not going to be available to us on Thursday."
The coach, however, refrained from speculating exact date of the netminder’s return and all the possibilities and hopes about him rejoining the squad at earliest remain in the air.
Still, there is an optimism the player is able to get fit before the weekend as his presence in front of the team’s net remains crucial to their performance.
Meanwhile, Brian Elliott, will continue to replace him. Elliott’s 26 saves in the game 3 on Monday, April 16, 2012, helped the team to inflict a 4-3 defeat on Sharks.
Elliott is expected to make second straight start in Thursday’s game. However, Blues also have another option in presence of Jake Allen, who has been called up from the junior league.
According to the coach, Allen will remain as a backup to Elliott as they do not want to take chances with the possibilities of injuries always there due to the intensity of the competition in the playoff phase.
Hitchcock appreciated the fact that Elliott has covered up the absence of Halak well, but insisted his presence in the squad remains significant.
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