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Ducks’ Matt Beleskey to start for injured Patrick Maroon tonight

Matt Beleskey, shown in a game last April, will replace Patrick Maroon on the Ducks' first line Tuesday against Philadelphia.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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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.”

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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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