Infection delays return of Corey Perry, Francois Beauchemin to Ducks

The absences of Ducks leading scorer Corey Perry and veteran defensive leader Francois Beauchemin will drag on, their sicknesses identified by the team Tuesday as viral glandular infections.

The Ducks announced Perry and Beauchemin must await test results that Coach Bruce Boudreau said could come as soon as Wednesday before they can be cleared to return to practice.

In the meantime, Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano said players are taking some precautions to help ensure the infection doesn’t spread.

“The most important thing is for the rest of us to keep the dressing room clean and stay healthy,” Cogliano said. “When stuff like this runs through teams, it can go pretty quickly.

“Guys have been loading up on Vitamin C, washing their hands, and when you go home, take care of yourself.”

Perry, the NHL’s player of the month in October who had 11 goals in 13 games, has missed the last three – all shootout/overtime losses – and received intravenous fluid treatments at an area hospital for two days recently, a team official said.

Beauchemin, with four assists, fell ill during the weekend and missed Sunday’s shootout loss to Vancouver.

“You’re taking the No. 1 goal scorer in the league out of your lineup … and your leader on defense,” Boudreau said. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m sure they’ll be back sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there.”