The defending National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup champions, Chicago Blackhawks, are expected to miss the services of veteran right wing Marián Hossa who injured his left leg in an overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks last Saturday.
Hossa's recent leg woe placed him on injured reserve (IR), with him already missing Chicago's 7–2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs last Monday.
In the second period of Saturday's defeat, Hossa received a check from Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm which led to the injury.
After the contact, Hossa needed assistance to leave the ice as he headed to the locker room and failed to check back in.
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville is bracing for the worst and thinks Hossa might need to miss time.
However, Quenneville already has a possible timeline, saying, according to the Chicago Tribune, "Hopefully two weeks is probably what we're looking at."
In the report, Quenneville also sees Hossa's leg injury as a time for other players to step up in his likely absence.
"It's a good test and certainly you get a good look at some guys. There's great opportunity, power play, penalty killing, important minutes, defensive situations, last-minute periods in games -- all quality ice time you want to have out there. Guys will be pushing for the opportunity to get it and hopefully they can take advantage," Quenneville explained.
Hossa, a five-time NHL All-Star, is in his seventh season with the Blackhawks, a team he helped to three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and last season.
This season, the 37-year-old right wing played in 54 regular season games so far and has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists).
The loss of Hossa is another tough break for the Blackhawks who are being challenged as of late and before winning over Toronto was on a three-game losing slide.
Despite all the setbacks, the Blackhawks are still second in the Central division with a 37–18–5 record.
