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Ducks hit with another injury when Rakell is late scratch

Ducks center Rickard Rakell (67) hits the ice after Winnepeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stops his shot on Nov. 24.
(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)
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The hits keep on coming for the Ducks.

Just as Ryan Miller returned from injured reserve, and the team was inching closer to full health, Rickard Rakell was a late scratch from the lineup Saturday against the Kings.

The Ducks announced Rakell suffered an upper-body injury and is officially day to day. Kalle Kossila was recalled and replaced the Swede in the lineup.

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said Rakell won’t travel with the team for Monday’s contest in Chicago, and he was unsure if Rakell would be available for the remaining four games on the trip.

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“We’re missing five guys out of our top nine forwards,” Carlyle said. But other teams have injuries too and it’s not an excuse. ... When you’re in this business, you expect surprises, you just don’t expect so many of them in a short period of time.”

If Rakell is sidelined for an extended period of time, it’s another huge blow to the Ducks’ scoring chances.

The 24-year-old led the team with 33 goals last season, and his 10 goals this campaign also are tops on the team.

He’s also the Ducks’ points leader with 18.

With the Ducks’ top two centers — Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler — out of the lineup, they can ill afford to lose Rakell.


UPDATES:

1:20 p.m.: This article was updated with an update about Rickard Rakell from coach Randy Carlyle.

This article was originally published on Nov. 25 at 8:50 p.m.

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