Ducks’ Matt Beleskey to start for injured Patrick Maroon tonight
Matt Beleskey will replace injured Patrick Maroon on the Ducks’ first line Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, with Maroon waiting until a team doctor’s examination Wednesday in Anaheim to learn the extent of damage to his left leg.
The 230-pound forward, who has three assists through three games, was hit low by Buffalo defenseman Josh Gorges and struck the boards, requiring assistance to leave the ice, in Monday’s 5-1 Ducks victory. On Tuesday, Maroon was walking gingerly with a flexible brace around his left knee.
A preliminary assessment is that he hasn’t suffered a ligament tear that will require a months-long absence, but Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau added, “I don’t see it as a day-to-day thing, either.”
Center Rickard Rakell — a healthy scratch the past two games who has played right wing in juniors — will play Tuesday night.
“We don’t play until Friday, so we’ll see how everything shapes out, to see what condition [injured forward Dany] Heatley [groin] is in and … make a decision at that point,” Boudreau said.
Maroon had 11 goals and 29 points last season, earning a three-year contract.
“He’s a big miss, but Beleskey has proven he can play on that line,” Boudreau said.
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