Carter, Marchant are hurt, creating a void at center
Rookie Carter suffers a broken right wrist in win over Colorado, and Marchant bruises his shoulder on a separate play. There's no timetable for either player's return.
The Ducks' depth at center took a sizable hit Wednesday in their 3-2 shootout win over Colorado.
Rookie Ryan Carter suffered a fractured right wrist and veteran Todd Marchant a bruised shoulder on separate plays.
Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said there is no timetable for either player at this point. Carter's injury is the more serious, although Carlyle said he doesn't expect that surgery will be required.
Carter, who has four goals and eight points in 33 games, has been one of the team's pleasant surprises this season. He was put on injured reserve, and the team recalled center Andrew Ebbett from minor league Portland, Maine.
"Obviously this is a young player that was playing and earning minutes and making a contribution in his first year," Carlyle said.
Carter caught his wrist in a cutout in the plexiglass that's used for photographers to shoot game action, as he was being checked by Colorado defenseman Jeff Finger. The cutout is also covered by another plexiglass door that slides over it on the spectator side.
Carlyle said he had never seen such an injury take place. "A freak accident," he said.
Marchant was hurt on a body check as he tried to cut between two Avalanche defenders into the offensive zone in the second period. He's probably day to day but won't be available tonight against St. Louis and is doubtful for Sunday against Chicago.
"The first couple of days, you have to kind of let it settle down," Marchant said. "And then try a little rehab on it. Hopefully it won't be too long."
The Ducks still have Ryan Getzlaf and Samuel Pahlsson up the middle, but they tried Todd Bertuzzi at center Wednesday night and had Teemu Selanne skating there during Thursday's practice.
Brian Sutherby figures to be back in the lineup after being scratched the last two games. That was all Carlyle would divulge about potential line combinations.
"I'm trying to be as vague as possible," he said. "Can't you tell?"
Another injured center noted the recent developments.
Doug Weight said his instinct is to get back to the ice as soon as possible, but he also realizes that he can't afford to rush back before his strained left shoulder is healed.
Weight said the shoulder is responding to rest and rehabilitation, but it may be at least another week before he can consider playing.
TONIGHT
vs. St. Louis, 7, FSN West
Site -- Honda Center.
Radio -- 830.
Records -- Ducks 34-23-7, Blues 28-23-9.
Record vs. Blues -- 0-1-1.
Update -- Andy McDonald makes his return to Anaheim, where he spent the first seven-plus years of his career before going to the Blues for Weight on Dec. 14. McDonald has eight goals and 24 points in 26 games with St. Louis.
latimes.com
Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars
- The fans at American Airlines Center will be treated to a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars when they take their seats on Friday.
The Oilers lost 5-4 to the Predators last time out, as +150 road underdogs. The nine goals sailed OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Fernando Pisani, Denis Grebeshkov, Sam Gagner and Marty Reasoner scored for the Oilers.
The Stars were defeated 3-2 by the Flames last time out, as -175 favorites. The five goals were a PUSH against the posted over/under (5).
Niklas Hagman and Mattias Norstrom scored in the loss.
Current streak:
Edmonton has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Edmonton: 27-29-5
Dallas: 37-22-5
Edmonton most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-5-1
Before playing Detroit are 8-2
After playing Nashville are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Calgary are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Edmonton's last 10 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games on the road
Edmonton is 5-19-1 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Dallas
Edmonton is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
Dallas is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Dallas is 19-5-1 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Next up:
Edmonton home to Colorado, Sunday, February 24
Dallas at Nashville, Saturday, February 23
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames
- The Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Pengrowth Saddledome.
Henrik Zetterberg scored twice and Chris Osgood stopped all 18 shots to lead the Red Wings to a 4-0 win over the Avalanche on Monday. The Red Wings won the game as -145 favorites, and the four goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Chris Chelios and Valtteri Filppula scored the other goals for the Red Wings. Pavel Datsyuk pocketed three assists in the win.
Jarome Iginla scored at 17:33 of the third period to lift the Flames to a 3-2 win over the Stars on Wednesday. The Flames won the game as +155 underdogs, and the five goals were a PUSH against the posted over/under (5).
Alex Tanguay pocketed two goals in the win for Calgary, and Curtis Joseph made 29 saves.
Current streak:
Calgary has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Detroit: 42-15-5
Calgary: 31-22-8
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing Colorado are 6-4
After a win are 8-2
Calgary most recently:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After playing Dallas are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 8 games on the road
Detroit is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 9 games when playing on the road against Calgary
Calgary is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Calgary's last 9 games when playing at home against Detroit
Calgary is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
Next up:
Detroit at Vancouver, Saturday, February 23
Calgary at Minnesota, Sunday, February 24
Colorado Avalanche vs. Phoenix Coyotes
- The Colorado Avalanche and the Phoenix Coyotes will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Jobing.com Arena.
The Avalanche fell 3-2 to the Ducks last time out, as +180 underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Jeff Finger and Andrew Brunette scored in the loss.
The Coyotes lost 4-1 to the Flames last time out, at -110 odds. The five goals were UNDER the posted over/under (5.5).
Derrick Morris scored the lone goal for the Coyotes.
Current streak:
Colorado has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Colorado: 30-25-6
Phoenix: 31-26-4
Colorado most recently:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Buffalo are 8-8-1
After playing Anaheim are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5
Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-3-1
Before playing Chicago are 4-6
After playing Calgary are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing Phoenix
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games at home
Phoenix is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Colorado
Next up:
Colorado at Edmonton, Sunday, February 24
Phoenix home to St. Louis, Sunday, February 24
St. Louis Blues vs. Anaheim Ducks
- The St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at Honda Center.
The Blues were crushed 5-1 by the Kings on Thursday, as -120 favorites. The six goals made it OVER the posted over/under (5.5).
Martin Rucinsky scored the lone Blues goal on the power play.
Cory Perry scored the shootout winner on Wednesday, as the Ducks got past the Avalanche 3-2. The Ducks won the game as -210 favorites, and the combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under (5).
Teemu Selanne and Rob Niedermayer scored in regulation for the Ducks.
Current streak:
Anaheim has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
St. Louis: 28-23-9
Anaheim: 34-23-7
St. Louis most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-3-1
After playing Los Angeles are 5-5
After a loss are 3-7
Anaheim most recently:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Chicago are 5-5
After playing Colorado are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 9 games when playing Anaheim
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing on the road against Anaheim
St. Louis is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Anaheim
Anaheim is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Anaheim is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games at home
Anaheim is 6-1-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Anaheim's last 9 games when playing St. Louis
Next up:
St. Louis at Phoenix, Sunday, February 24
Anaheim home to Chicago, Sunday, February 24
Today's NHL analysis
Hot Teams
-- Dallas Stars won nine of their last eleven games.
-- Flames won five of their last seven home games.
-- Coyotes won three of their last four games.
Cold Teams
-- Edmonton lost three of its last four road games.
-- Red Wings lost six of their last seven games.
-- Avalanche lost last five games, scoring total of five goals.
Series Records
-- Oilers lost their last five games against Dallas.
-- Detroit won five in row, seven of last nine against the Flames.
-- Coyotes are 3-0 vs Colorado this year: 4-3/5-2/4-3ot.
-- Blues won three of last four against Anaheim.
Totals
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Edmonton games.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Calgary games.
-- Last 10 Colorado-Phoenix games went over the total.
-- Under is 6-2-2 in last ten Anaheim games.
Injuries & Issues - Feb 22
C. Beckford-Tseu (STL) - signed NHL contract, new backup to Legace
S. Clemmensen (TOR) - played backup to Toskala last night
E. Ersberg (LA) - will backup Cloutier this weekend
M. Fernandez (BOS) - knee surgery, likely done for entire season
M. Fleury (PIT) - finished his 4th rehab start, return is near
T. Greiss (SJ) - up from Worcester for a few games, started last night
D. Hasek (DET) - will return to practice mid-week
J. Howard (DET) - called up in Hasek’s absence, starts Saturday
J. LaBarbera (LA) - groin injury, will not play this weekend
D. Patzold (SJ) - sent down to Worcester
A. Raycroft (TOR) - is ill and missed last night’s game