Edmonton Oilers will officially be without their captain, Shawn Horcoff, for what the team is saying could be for a long-term period of time. Horcoff suffered a broken knuckle in Monday night's 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Oilers' head coach Ralph Krueger made the announcement after the game, saying Horcoff broke the knuckle while attempting to block a shot during the second period of the game.
"It got pushed right in. That'll be long-term. He was just playing hockey, blocking a shot. We're going to have to regroup quickly" Krueger said.
Horcoff has one goal and one assist in seven games played so far this season. He has played his entire career in Edmonton. His injury is a huge loss to the Oilers. Last season, Horcoff knocked in 13 goals with 21 assists in 81 games played. Having a team's captain out in the shortened season could do a lot of harm to the team. They currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with a tough schedule ahead. No word on what "long-term" means in reference to a time table for Horcoff's return. Krueger is hoping his team can bounce back quickly after losing the forward.
This was Horcoff's first game back after missing two with a strained neck. He left in the second period with the knuckle injury and did not return. Edmonton eventually lost the game after Vancouver's Chris Tanev picked up his first NHL goal to put the Canucks over the Oilers in overtime.
Edmonton has been hit hard with injuries lately. Defenseman Mark Fistric is listed as day-to-day after he attempted to hit Vancouver's Mason Raymond, but missed and crashed into the boards. Fistric left the game and did not return. Fistric is scoreless on the season.
