Teemu Selanne returned from a broken hand last week to join the Anaheim Ducks after missing more than a month of the season's schedule. Three games later, the veteran is back on the injured reserve, courtesy of a deflected slap shot catching him in the face that broke two bones in his jaw. Selanne underwent surgery and is expected to miss anywhere between two to six weeks.
Finnish Fiasco: Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu Both Injured
If Selanne’s recovery is at the longer end of that spectrum, his ability to play for Finland at the Winter Olympics next month may be in major jeopardy. Selanne has five weeks to recover for Finland’s first Olympic match-up against Belarus on Feb.17, and his chances may depend heavily on his permission to play with a protective shield or mask.
In other bad news for Finland, Saku Koivu left yesterday's game against the Los Angeles Kings with a lower-body injury that occurred during a second period face-off. Team Finland's captain was playing his best hockey of the year with 19 points in 23 games and this comes one day after Selanne's incident. There's been no mention of the exigency of Koivu's status.
With the tremendous chemistry these two have, this is a huge blow for Anaheim and possibly Finland.
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