Updated:
More bad news for the Anaheim Ducks. On the same night that Emerson Etem was diagnosed with mumps (the fourth such diagnosis of the season for Anaheim organization), Corey Perry has been injured by a heavy Keith Ballard hip check.
INJURY UPDATE: Corey Perry (lower-body injury) is doubtful to return to tonight's game. #ANAvsMIN
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 6, 2014
Ballard crunched Perry with an old school hip check along the boards in the first period of Friday’s game.
Perry was driving wide with speed through the offensive zone, when Ballard clobbered him.Ballard ended up in a fight with Ducks’ forward Nate Thompson later in the period.
The Ballard hit injured Perry's left knee. The injury is non weight bearing. Perry could not apply his body weight to the injured leg while being assisted off the ice.
The collision looked very similar to Josh Gorges nailing Patrick Maroon in Buffalo in early October. Maroon suffered a sprained left MCL and missed 2 1/2 weeks of action.
If Perry's injury is serious, the Ducks will be in trouble. Perry leads the Ducks with 14 goals. The Ducks are having trouble keeping pucks out of their own net. They entered Friday night with a +4 goal differential. The Ducks have scored 76 goals while allowing 72 goals against.
Take Perry's goal scoring prowess out of the lineup and the Ducks' decimated D will be all the more exposed.
Perry will travel with the team and more will be known about his injury on Saturday.
More to come....
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Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford finds himself in quite a pickle today. His forward ranks are thin, and getting thinner. Rutherford will have to seek a trade partner to patch the gaping holes in his top six forward group.
His lack of organizational forward depth is a huge concern right now. The Pens are mission some top six monsters and there are no suitable replacements on the current rosters of the Penguins nor their Scranton-Wilkes Barre club.
Chris Kunitz was diagnosed with a broken foot earlier this week and will be lost for a considerable amount of time. Kunitz, who rides shotgun for Sidney Crosby, had scored just one goal in his past 12 games. He hadn't missed a game this season before he was injured.
Last month, Pascal Dupuis, the other key part to the Crosby-Kunitz super duo, was diagnosed with serious blood clot issues and was declared out for the next six months, and possibly more. LA Kings center/winger Mike Richards is also an option.
Beau Bennett is injured again.
Nick Spaling is currently skating on Pittsburgh's top line with Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist who was smashed head on by Vancouver D Ryan Stanton on Thursday night.
Thus leaving Evgeni Malkin to have to make do with Jayson Megna and Blake Comeau as his wingers.
Rutherford can turn to Buffalo's Drew Stafford and/or Chris Stewart for relief. Both Sabres wingers are pending UFAs. David Perron of the Edmonton Oilers is also a consideration.
Oh, by the way, Kris Letang has been placed on IR.
Rutherford better move quickly as Boston Bruins GM Pete Chiarelli was in Buffalo to watch Chris Stewart play against Tampa on Tuesday night. Stafford has been injured and will make his return to the lineup in Sunrise on Saturday night. Chiarelli still hasn't found the replacement to Jarome Iginla's 30 goals.
Chiarelli was also seen scouting the Blues-Wings game in ChiTown on Wednesday night.
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There have been rumors lately involving Isles D prospect Griffin Reinhart asking his GM Garth Snow for a trade.
Arthur Staple of Newsday asked Snow if Reinhart was on the move and the Isles GM answered
Asked Garth Snow if Griffin Reinhart requested a trade: "No." Carry on. #Isles
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) December 5, 2014
Then, Staple spoke with Reinhart's agent and got the same answer
Griffin Reinhart's agent, Don Meehan, says he has no knowledge of his client requesting a trade from the #Isles. Carry on. Again.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) December 5, 2014For good measure, Reinhart himself tweeted that the rumors are not true.
To clarify for all you asking... It's not true.
— Griffin Reinhart (@GriffinReinhart) December 5, 2014
Griffin is the brother of Max and Samson Reinhart.
Rest in peace, Griffin Reinhart trade rumor.
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