Los Angeles Kings' Jeff Carter ready to debut in Playoffs game-one against Vancouver Canucks –NHL
Los Angeles Kings need as much shooting power as they can get and luckily, in the nick of time, one of their top forwards, Jeff Carter, personally confirmed that he will definitely be back on the ice with his team against Vancouver Canucks in game-one of
the Western Conference playoff quarterfinal series on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.
After joining the team for a practice session earlier on Monday, Carter confirmed his availability and termed his health as well and good. He not being on the ice to go up against the top team in the National Hockey League (NHL) would certainly have had
Los Angeles at a disadvantage but now, the situation is totally different.
"For sure," said Carter after practice.
While Carter believes that he will be playing against Vancouver this upcoming Wednesday, Los Angeles Kings head coach, Darryl Sutter, believes otherwise and has put a different twist into the story by saying it will depend on his evaluations.
"He still has a ways to go," Sutter said of Carter. "We just have to evaluate (the injury) a day at a time."
Jeff Carter miss the final five games of the 2011-2012 NHL regular season due to a deep bone bruise on his ankle acquired in a game against the Flames in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
He was acquired by Los Angeles after pressurising his former team Columbus Blue Jackets, which also traded for him in a blockbuster offseason deal with Philadelphia Flyers. The trade also included a teammate, Mike Richards, with which he was reunited in
Los Angeles.
Carter has had another exceptional season as he registered 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists), in just 55 games played along with 16 minutes in penalty time. The player was not able to play an entire season but definitely has the potential to be one of the
greatest in the playoffs.
Los Angeles was aiming on clinching the Pacific Division title but failed to late in the regular season as they fell behind by two points from Phoenix Coyotes. It could be blamed on losing Carter who was out for the final five, but now Los Angeles definitely
can focus on much more important things, like winning the Stanley Cup.
Tags: