Doctor’s orders: Burrows to sit out one more week
In the secretive world of hockey injuries, sometimes the truth is out there and it finally was Friday with respect to Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows.
General manager Mike Gillis released the cat from the bag when he told a Team 1040 radio audience that Burrows, who broke his jaw Dec. 1, would return to the lineup after the Canucks play in Phoenix next Thursday.
Burrows confirmed all of that a few hours later at the team’s optional morning skate. He’ll be back next Saturday, Jan. 18, against the Calgary Flames.
“That’s exactly what the doctor said when I met with him again on Dec. 31 in Nashville,” Burrows explained. “I flew down there for a followup appointment to see where we were
at. He said I’ll be able to go after the Phoenix game.”
Burrows, 32, participated in his first full practice with the team Thursday, leading to speculation his return was imminent, perhaps even soon enough to play Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues. That was never the case, however.
“I feel great but there is a process when you have a broken bone, it normally takes six to seven weeks to heal fully,” Burrows said. “If it’s in your foot, maybe you can go back in three or four but when it’s the jawbone, I guess you have to be extra cautious. They say you have to wait at least six weeks.”
When Burrows does return, he will have missed 6 ½ weeks. He still has braces on his teeth, both top and bottom, and those will come off Jan. 17, the day before he plays against the Flames. Burrows will have that procedure done in Vancouver and won’t require another trip to Nashville.
Burrows was hurt when teammate Chris Tanev’s clearing attempt during a second- period penalty kill against Carolina struck him on the jaw. The Canucks then moved on to Nashville, where the fracture was discovered and the surgery performed.
When he does return, Burrows will wear a jaw protector. He said he will likely be required to wear the extra protection until after the Olympic break. The Canucks’ first game following the break is Feb. 26 at home against the Blues. MORE FROM SICK BAY: Among the remaining injured Canucks, only defenceman Andrew Alberts ( concussion) is not on the ice. Netminder Roberto Luongo ( ankle) took shots Friday morning from goalie coach Rollie Melanson while defenceman Ryan Stanton ( ankle) and centre Jordan Schroeder ( ankle) were worked out by assistant coach Darryl Williams.
Burrows and Alex Edler ( knee)
skated with the main group, an indication they are the closest to returning.
“Andrew Alberts is still always away,” head coach John Tortorella said. “We’ll continue to evaluate him but he’s nowhere near where these other guys are. So he’s staying away just trying to get himself straight.”
Alberts was injured Dec. 29 in Calgary when he was slammed into the boards by Flames enforcer Brian McGrattan.
QUOTABLE: “I look at the points column. The way this league, how screwed up it is with that shootout and the standings — and what’s it, the SOL? — there are so many columns there that I get confused. So I’m looking at the points column.” – Tortorella, before the St. Louis game, explaining why shootout losses ( SOL) and overtime losses ( OTL) aren’t total losses.