Madferret
11-04-05, 8:04 PM
Jackets' Nash could be out 4-6 weeks
Canadian Press/TSN
The disappointment etched across the face of Rick Nash spoke louder than the Columbus Blue Jackets star's words Friday.
Nash was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury will not play Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. A Blue Jackets spokesperson, however, told TSN that the preliminary diagnosis was a knee sprain that could sideline their star player for four to six weeks.
The team won't know the full extent of the damage done to his left knee until he has an MRI on Saturday when the Blue Jackets return to Columbus.
"It's another tough injury to go through," said the 21-year-old, who had just returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a high ankle sprain. "It's part of the sport, part of the game. I can't do anything about it."
Nash was hurt when a defenceman caught him with a hip check during a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. "I just kind of cut into the middle," he said. "The defenceman stuck out his hip and hit my knee. I felt a little pop and felt it wasn't right when I got up and skated on it."
Coach Gerard Gallant said the hit was clean. Neither Nash nor Gallant would speculate how long the left-winger would be out. "From everything the doctors have said, everything looks positive," said Nash.
"I'm walking on it. I skated off and played half a shift after. I'll just wait until we get back home tomorrow and get an MRI and see how it goes from there."
Nash is on the list of players able to be named to the Canadian team at the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in February. Missing more games with an injury could affect his chances of playing at the Olympics.
"This is hopefully just a day-to-day injury where I could be back as soon as possible," said Nash. "Hopefully it won't affect it too much. There's still a good three months until the Olympics."
Nash, the first overall selection in the 2002 draft, was the youngest player to lead the NHL in goals, scoring 41 to share the title two years ago with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk.
In three games this year he has no points and is -3.
Without Nash in the lineup the Blue Jackets have struggled. The team was 4-10-0 heading into Friday night's game and had won just once in eight road games.
"You don't want to make excuses because nobody listens to them but he's been a huge part of our team," Gallant said of Nash's absence.
"We haven't scored many goals from our groups of forwards. People have to pick up the slack and score some goals here."
:no:
Canadian Press/TSN
The disappointment etched across the face of Rick Nash spoke louder than the Columbus Blue Jackets star's words Friday.
Nash was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury will not play Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. A Blue Jackets spokesperson, however, told TSN that the preliminary diagnosis was a knee sprain that could sideline their star player for four to six weeks.
The team won't know the full extent of the damage done to his left knee until he has an MRI on Saturday when the Blue Jackets return to Columbus.
"It's another tough injury to go through," said the 21-year-old, who had just returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a high ankle sprain. "It's part of the sport, part of the game. I can't do anything about it."
Nash was hurt when a defenceman caught him with a hip check during a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. "I just kind of cut into the middle," he said. "The defenceman stuck out his hip and hit my knee. I felt a little pop and felt it wasn't right when I got up and skated on it."
Coach Gerard Gallant said the hit was clean. Neither Nash nor Gallant would speculate how long the left-winger would be out. "From everything the doctors have said, everything looks positive," said Nash.
"I'm walking on it. I skated off and played half a shift after. I'll just wait until we get back home tomorrow and get an MRI and see how it goes from there."
Nash is on the list of players able to be named to the Canadian team at the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in February. Missing more games with an injury could affect his chances of playing at the Olympics.
"This is hopefully just a day-to-day injury where I could be back as soon as possible," said Nash. "Hopefully it won't affect it too much. There's still a good three months until the Olympics."
Nash, the first overall selection in the 2002 draft, was the youngest player to lead the NHL in goals, scoring 41 to share the title two years ago with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk.
In three games this year he has no points and is -3.
Without Nash in the lineup the Blue Jackets have struggled. The team was 4-10-0 heading into Friday night's game and had won just once in eight road games.
"You don't want to make excuses because nobody listens to them but he's been a huge part of our team," Gallant said of Nash's absence.
"We haven't scored many goals from our groups of forwards. People have to pick up the slack and score some goals here."
:no: