Last Updated on March 29, 2021 by CCAR Staff
Coach Dallas Eakins couldn’t say how seriously left wing Rickard Rakell was injured after a neutral zone collision with Kyle Clifford of the St. Louis Blues in the second period Sunday at Enterprise Center. Eakins did say he saw Rakell up and about in the dressing room after the game.
Rakell’s status was uncertain for the Ducks’ game Monday against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, the final game on their five-game trip. He appeared to strike the back of his head on the ice after Clifford, skating from the opposite direction, lost an edge and rolled into him.
Rakell’s legs went out from under him and he fell backward. Players from both teams gathered around Rakell as Ducks head athletic trainer Joe Huff attended to him. Rakell needed assistance leaving the ice and getting to the dressing room at 13:27 of the second period. Clifford was uninjured.
“A total 100 percent accident on the ice,” Eakins said, absolving Clifford of any blame for the collision or the injury to Rakell. “I haven’t spoken to him (Rakell). I just saw him walk by a few minutes ago, so at least he’s up on his feet. We’ll get an update on him (Monday).”
Rakell is the Ducks’ leading scorer with 22 points, including a team-leading 15 assists. He scored a goal in the Ducks’ 4-1 victory Friday over the Blues, ending an eight-game drought. His departure reduced the Ducks to 10 forwards after Eakins iced a lineup with seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
ZEGRAS SITS OUT
Trevor Zegras, a 20-year-old rookie left wing, was scratched from the lineup, and Eakins made it clear it was done only to give Danton Heinen a chance to play Sunday against the Blues. Heinen was out of the lineup for the past three games, but was back in for Sunday’s game.
“We’ve got lots of players around here,” Eakins said. “We’ve got six guys on the taxi squad and we’ve got a full roster. We’re trying to keep guys involved, as well. I know there’s such a great focus on Trevor Zegras, but the reality is he’s come in and he’s getting his feet under him.
“If you look at his draft class (in 2019), he’s played a whole lot more games than a lot of those guys who were drafted in that first round. He’s not fallen behind. He’s ahead of most. That’s it. It’s nothing to do with anything but this lineup is going to get moved around from night to night.
“Sometimes ‘Z’ is going to find himself on the sidelines.”
Zegras, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, has one goal and four assists in 15 games since he was recalled Feb. 21 from the Ducks’ AHL team, the San Diego Gulls. He was scratched twice earlier this season for essentially the same reason, to give others a chance to play.
He’s expected to return to the lineup if Rakell can’t play Monday against the Avalanche.
