Ducks' Sami Vatanen (lower body) out 4-6 weeks
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen is expected to miss four to six weeks with an unspecified lower-body injury, the team announced Tuesday.
Vatanen left in the first period of the Ducks' 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday. He leads all Anaheim defensemen in points (34) and is third in the group in average time on ice (21:40). The third-year player was also the team's only defenseman to have appeared in all 57 games this year.
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Tests showed no fractures or a need for surgery, reports Eric Stephens of The Orange County Register.
Left wing Matt Beleskey also exited Sunday's game with an unspecified upper-body injury. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, and both he and Vatanen are expected back for the playoffs. Beleskey has a career-high 21 goals and eight game-winners in 56 games this season.
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In corresponding roster moves, the Ducks recalled left wing Emerson Etem and defenseman Josh Manson from the AHL's Norfolk Admirals.
The Ducks are third in the Western Conference with 77 points and a 35-15-7 record.
- Mike Fiammetta