Colorado Avalanche centre Matt Duchene in another injury scare-NHL News
Colorado Avalanche are on hold about return of forward, Matt Duchene, who left the ice during Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Wild with an ankle injury in the third period not to show for rest of it.
Results of the initial tests on the player’s ankle have remained inclusive and another test was due for him later on Wednesday, March 07, 2012.
The management is yet to reveal the latest results, which are likely to determine the future course of the player, who had returned to play first game on Tuesday after having remained on the sidelines for three weeks due to a knee injury.
Duchene was injured into sixth minute of the third period of the game, which Colorado won with the score difference of 7-to-1. He was stripped by opposition’s winger, Nick Palmieri.
He was helped to the sidelines and was later taken for initial X-rays.
Later, coach, Joe Sacco, said he was unaware if a fracture was found in the test, and said that the next test would determine the status of the injury.
The coach said:
"All I know is it's an ankle injury right now. He'll be re-evaluated today and I'll know more tonight or tomorrow morning."
The game against Wild was Duchene’s first after missing 20 games in a row since injuring his left knee during the matchup against the Phoenix Coyotes on December 29, 2012.
He is not going to accompany the team on its road trip to Nashville on Thursday, 08, 2012, and can only hope that the latest injury scare does not rule him out of the side for rest of the regular season.
The team’s other centre, Paul Stastny and right wing, David Jones, thinks that the player might have re-injured his knee when he was tripped over and said that a penalty should have been called by the officials.
Stastny said:
"Sometimes it's just a string of bad luck. You just hope he's OK. It's been a frustrating year for him. It wears on you mentally, but he'll get stronger from it. We just hope he gets back as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, there was good news for the team from the injury front of the defenseman, Ryan O'Byrne, who joined the squad for practice on Wednesday.
He took part in the team’s contact and drill sessions, coming out of seven games’ absence due to a knee injury.
The player said:
"It's tough to keep a totally healthy line-up in this game. Dutchie is a big part of our team and hopefully he's not out for long."
He hopes Duchene is back to join them again, soon.
Meanwhile, O'Byrne himself is expected to undergo more workout on Friday and weekend before returning to the side.
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