Ducks’ Eaves among walking wounded
Anaheim Ducks first-line winger Patrick Eaves left Prospera Place, home of Jason Smith’s WHL junior Rockets, Monday afternoon with a walking boot on his right foot after stopping a shot in Game 3 Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.
Not exactly the 33rd birthday present he was looking for.
“Day-to-day with a lower body injury,” said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle.
Could be broken, could be a bad bruise, could be ligaments.
Eaves has four playoff points in seven games.
The Anaheim Ducks got out of Dodge and into a lakeside hotel here Monday, choosing to spend two days away from hockey mad, Oilers Nation, between Games 3 and 4.
“There’s lots of bumps and bruises and lots of our guys have been here before, they know the area. It’s just an opportunity to exhale,” said Carlyle.
Carlyle loved how the Oilers fans’ belted out The Star Spangled Banner, then O Canada.
“It’s amazing with all the technology we have today that those things (Brett Kissel’s mike not working) happen,” said Carlyle. “But it’s a tribute to the fans in Edmonton that they were able to join in the evening and make it a bit more special singing the national anthems.”
The Rickard Rakell goal 25 seconds into Sunday’s contest, a home run pass from Ryan Getzlaf, was one of the many choreographed plays the Ducks have coming off a faceoff. So about that set-play? “I can’t tell you all our secrets,” said Carlyle.
Getzlaf stole the puck from Darnell Nurse on a hard rim around the boards, just before he blasted one past Cam Talbot to make it 3-0 in the first Sunday.
“He (Getzlaf ) read the play and he stepped into it from, as we call it, the ladies tees. Maybe you’re not supposed to use that term anymore in today’s society. Let’s say the forward tees. Big league shot, upstairs,” said Carlyle.
This ’n’ that: Sami Vatanen, who was back for Game 3 after missing five games with a suspected shoulder problem, played 18 minutes. … Defenceman Kevin Bieksa, who appeared to injure his knee in Game 1, skated for the first time Monday but isn’t close to playing. … Josh Manson’s dad Dave, the former Oilers defenceman, and his mom Lana were at Rogers Place Sunday amid the sea of orange jerseys in the stands.