Avalanche’s Rantanen out ‘weeks’ after boards crash

Colorado Avalanche right-winger Mikko Rantanen is expected to be sidelined “weeks” with an upper-body injury, coach Jared Bednar said.

Rantanen was tripped by Tampa Bay defenceman Erik Cernak and crashed into the boards on Monday. Rantanen was holding his left shoulder upon getting to his feet and retreated straight to the locker-room.

The 23-year-old Rantanen has 19 goals and 41 points in 42 games this season.

The Washington Capitals acquired defenceman Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft and a conditional thirdround selection in 2021.

Dillon is in the final season of a five-year contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Dillon has one goal, 14 points and 83 penalty minutes in 59 games this season.

The Winnipeg Jets acquired defenceman Dylan Demelo from the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft.

Demelo has 10 assists and 31 penalty minutes in 49 games this season.

The 26-year-old is one season removed from posting career-high totals in goals (four), points (22) and games played (77).

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser will miss eight weeks with a rib cartilage fracture, GM Jim Benning announced Tuesday.

The timeline would place Boeser’s potential return in the playoffs, should Vancouver qualify.

The 22-year-old, who had yet to

miss a game, collected 16 goals and 45 points in 56 games this season.

Top female hockey players are headed to Japan for a three-game series with the national team to highlight their fight against inequality, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association announced Tuesday.

The PWHPA, whose mission is to promote and advance a single women’s pro league with fair wages, said the games will be played on March 4, 5 and 7 at Tokyo’s Shin-yokohama Skate Center.

The PWHPA also said the threegame series will be a chance for the Japanese team to prepare for the women’s ice hockey world championship that begins on March 31 in Nova Scotia.