Havelid’s Broken Middle Finger Sends Him to Sidelines for Month

Mighty Duck defenseman Niclas Havelid underwent surgery for a broken middle finger on his right hand Monday. He is expected to be sidelined a month.

Havelid, who suffered the injury while blocking a shot near the end of Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes, has been a solid player for the Ducks since becoming accustomed to the NHL. He played in Sweden the last five years before the Ducks drafted him in the third round last June.

“It’s going to hurt because Niclas was playing so well for us,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “We do have depth there. The team just has to carry on. We can’t worry about it.”

The Ducks do not lack for bodies on defense and have some quality offensive defensemen in Oleg Tverdovsky and Fredrik Olausson. But Havelid’s skating and puck-handling skills will be missed.

He was also a fixture on the second power-play unit.

Havelid has two goals and six assists this season. He has a plus-minus rating of plus-7 over the last 32 games.

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Goalie Guy Hebert was a late scratch Monday because of flu. Dominic Roussel started in his place.

“If Guy was a defenseman or a forward, he probably could play,” Hartsburg said of Hebert. “But for a guy who is on the ice 60 minutes, it’s a little different.”

THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY VS. DALLAS

* Starting time: 7:30 p.m.

* Television: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key: For the Ducks, it’s keeping tabs on Star right wing Brett Hull, who scorched them for two goals--including the game-winner--in a 5-4 victory Dec. 31.

* Season series: The teams have split four games.

* About Dallas: The Stars, the defending Stanley Cup champions, have risen in the last three weeks from last place in the Pacific Division to a tie for first. Hull (groin) and center Mike Modano (concussion) are expected to be ready by Wednesday’s game. Dallas has the top penalty-killing unit in the NHL at 91.6%. Left wing Kirk Muller, signed as a free agent Dec. 14, has three goals and seven points in the last eight games.

FRIDAY VS. COLORADO

* Starting time: 7:30 p.m.

* Television: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key: The Ducks need to get an early lead. Colorado is 16-0-1 when leading after two periods.

* Season series: The teams have split two games.

* About Colorado: The Avalanche received a scare when center Peter Forsberg left Saturday’s game with a knee injury. It was determined to be a contusion and he should be ready by Friday’s game. Forsberg, who missed the first 23 games of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery, has seven goals and 22 points since returning. He has a career-high 11-game scoring streak. Sandis Ozolinsh is the league’s top scoring defenseman with 35 points.

SATURDAY AT SAN JOSE

* Starting time: 7:30 p.m.

* Television: Channel 9

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key: Getting something past Shark goalie Steve Shields. That hasn’t been easy for the Ducks. He has allowed one goal in five periods against them this season.

* Season series: The Ducks have won both games.

* About San Jose: Right wing Owen Nolan and left wing Jeff Friesen both stirred from slumps Saturday. Nolan had two goals, ending a six-game scoreless streak. Friesen scored the game-winner in overtime for his second goal in 11 games. The Sharks are 0-13-1 when trailing after two periods.