Lightning lose Halpern for 6-to-8 months with ruptured knee ligament
2008-05-07 20:50:00
TAMPA BAY - Tampa Bay centre Jeff Halpern is expected to miss the next six to eight months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, the Lightning announced Wednesday.
Halpern, the captain of the U.S. team, was hit hard late in the third period of Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Canada in Halifax. The diagnosis was made Wednesday by Dr. Benjamin Shaffer in Washington.
Halpern also suffered a Grade 3 sprain to his medial collateral ligament, and a small tear to his lateral meniscus. Doctors recommended Halpern wait 4-6 weeks for the MCL injury to heal before undergoing reconstructive surgery on his ACL, which typically carries a recovery time of 5-6 months.
Halpern, 32, had 20 goals and 22 assists in 83 games for the Dallas Stars and the Lightning this season. The six-foot, 195-pounder has 281 points (115-166) in 597 career games with Washingon, Dallas and Tampa Bay.
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“I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”
- Ottawa's Chris Neil about a hit he threw on Tampa's Victor Hedman Thursday night, causing Hedman to leave the game.
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David Flanigan Posted
(2009-04-30 06:17:19)
Cameron Paul Posted
(2009-04-30 06:17:18)