Kings’ Martinez out indefinitely
Los Angeles Kings defenceman Alec Martinez had surgery on his right wrist, which was cut by a skate Monday night, and is expected to make a full recovery.
Doctors repaired the radial artery and two superficial radial nerves at Keck Medical Center, the team said. Martinez will be evaluated weekly, but the team doesn’t know when he will return.
“First of all, we’re real happy that things went well for Alec,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “Now he’s got some time to heal, and when he’s ready to play again we’ll welcome him back because he’s an important part of our team.”
Martinez was hurt in the third period of the Kings’ 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose. Martinez made a headfirst dive to bat away a loose puck and was cut just above the glove by the skate of Melker Karlsson when the Sharks forward lost his balance.
“You obviously saw him skate off the ice holding his hand, but I had no idea it was as bad as it was,” L.A. defenceman Joakim Ryan said Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Martinez has five assists in 24 games this season, his 11th in the league. He was averaging 21 minutes a game, second most on the team behind Drew Doughty.
TWO GAMES: The NHL suspended Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak for two games for elbowing Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin in the face.
Cernak wasn’t penalized for the hit, which occurred during a Sabres power play late in the second period of the Lightning’s 5-2 win on Monday night.
Dahlin was left bloodied and sustained a concussion. The second-year defenceman drove into the left circle before making a backhanded pass. As Dahlin curled back, Cernak caught him with an elbow that knocked him to the ice.
The suspension will cost Cernak $7,500 (U.S.).
A GHOST IN PHILLY: Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere is expected to miss his third straight game as coach Alain Vigneault gives him what he is calling a “reset.” Robert Hagg will continue to take Gostisbehere’s place.
Gostisbehere has just one goal and five assists in 22 games, and was a minus-6 over his last 15 games. The defenceman said Monday that he just needs to “figure some things out mentally.”
The Flyers have taken three of a possible four points with Hagg in the lineup and Gostisbehere out, losing to Calgary in a shootout on Saturday and beating Vancouver 2-1 on Monday.
“I didn’t play for almost three weeks. Playing a couple games in a row definitely helps,” said Hagg, who was paired with Phil Myers on Monday.