Ruslan Fedotenko replaces New York Rangers’ forward Mats Zuccarello out with broken wrist-NHL News
The Eastern Conference leaders, the New York Rangers, confirmed on Friday, March 23, 2012, that the latest injury of a fractured wrist has ended the current season for forward, Mats Zuccarello.
Zuccarello was injured in the game against the Buffalo Sabres on past Friday. He was hit on the left wrist by the puck as a result of a hit from Sabres’ defenseman, Jordan Leopold, in the first round of the game. He tried to avoid the shot but was struck
on the wrist.
After the injury, he managed to skate to the sidelines and was later examined by the team’s medical staff.
His injury was not confirmed to be the broken wrist immediately, but later tests proved the type and nature of it.
The player did not return to the squad for rest of the game, which Rangers lost, 1-4.
He did not manage to score a goal in the game, after scoring one goal each in consecutive games against the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils last week. He had also remained goalless in the game against Detroit earlier in the week.
At the end, it was rather unfortunate for the player to end the current season run on a disappointing note.
It was only his second game in the National Hockey League (NHL) as having remained in and out of the squad he played a dozen of games for Rangers but in the American Hockey League.
He was pointless in his three games at the start of the season before being sent to the AHL. Zuccarello was called back to Rangers in the NHL on March 11, 2012 and played a couple of games after the return.
Some commentators said that the second coming had presented itself to be a great opportunity for Zuccarello to prove himself worthy for the NHL but the stint has gone in vain.
The management has officially confirmed to have lost the forward to the injury for the rest of the season. However, it is less likely to affect the team’s successful run of the current season.
Rangers, with 99 points, are at the top of the Eastern conference and definite contenders for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Zuccarello’s injury has given a chance to Ruslan Fedotenko to make it to the main squad once again.
The veteran winger has played 16 games so far but could manage only a goal and an assist. He was left out of the Sabres game on past Friday for the second time in the season.
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