Anaheim Ducks’ veteran forward Jason Blake is expected to miss up to four months after an injury sustained in last Friday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.
Blake suffered a lacerated arm injury when he fell down by San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns as he attempted to play the puck. With ten and a half minutes remaining, it appeared as Burns’ skate accidently sliced the veteran on the left forearm. His arm went straight up, and he went straight off the ice. It was known right away his arm had been severely cut.
"Jason is resting at home and doing very well," said Ducks Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray. "This was an unfortunate, freak accident, but we are pleased to hear that Jason is expected to make a full and complete recovery. He's a real character person and teammate, and we look forward to having him back in our lineup when he's ready."
The Ducks won the game 1-0 in the always-so tightly contested California meet-up. The teams have been building a hard fought and well known rivalry over the years, especially as the Sharks have only come so close in many years consecutive while the Ducks completed the task in 2006-2007.
The Ducks as a team has had some building to do, and Jason Blake was clearly a part of it. The Ducks currently sit second in the Pacific Divison, just one point clear of the California based Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks at the moment are dead last in the division.
Though Jason Blake hadn’t tallied a single point through his first three games, he does account for fourth highest shots total amongst Ducks forwards with 11. Blake isn’t the same high point-getting forward he was four or five years ago, but the 38 year-old does have a knack for coming up big at good times in hockey games. Of his sixteen goals last year, three of them were game winners. His ability to see the puck and effectively play it also betters the team’s special teams units. With youngsters coming into the mix, Blake’s off-ice leadership abilities are positive for the club as well.
All doesn’t seem so bad for Anaheim despite losing Blake for an unknown amount of time. Veteran forward Teemu Selanne has been lighting the lamp, and leading his team in points. All of the veterans are getting in on the points scoring, with the youngsters coming in solid to back them up>
Anaheim is every year a threat to Western Conference rivals come playoff time, but they’ve been more successful with Blake on the ice.
- Kendall Grubbs
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