Michal Rozsival's injury was gruesome to watch, and Friday we found out why: Rozsival broke his left ankle.
That's all she wrote for Rozsival this season, the Chicago Blackhawks announced Friday. Surgery is needed to repair the damage.
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At 36, it's possible this could be the end of the line for Rozsival.
It's another twist for coach Joel Quenneville and the Blackhawks, who now must replace a top-six defenseman ahead of the Western Conference finals.
Rozsival was injured midway through the second period of Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Blackhawks completed a series sweep, so they have time to groom a replacement.
“Tough loss,” Quenneville said, understated as always. “Doesn’t look good.”
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Duncan Keith will get a new partner and Quenneville must find a guy to eat more than 20 minutes' ice time a game. No matter whether it's the Anaheim Ducks or Calgary Flames in the next series, the Blackhawks have a glaring need and a gaping hole.
Kimmo Timonen might fill parts of it, and David Rundblad is next on the depth chart, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. But the 'Hawks lack a patch and were getting by with Roszival because of a thin blue-line corps.
Of the options, only Kyle Cumiskey has playoff experience. Michael Paliotta could be a last resort.
Behind their top four, the 'Hawks don't have much. Timonen and someone else must step up.