Ducks’ Matt Beleskey to start for injured Patrick Maroon tonight
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Reporting from Philadelphia — 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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