SAN JOSEAnother one of the Vancouver Canucks is hurting following a collision with the Sharks Jamie McGinn.
McGinn hit Alexander Edler with a clean shoulder late in the second period of San Joses 3-2 loss to the Canucks on Saturday night at HP Pavilion. Edler left the game with what looked like an injured shoulder.
McGinn was already not a favorite in Vancouver, after hurting Canucks defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals last May, causing them both to miss the remainder of that series. That may be why the Vancouver Sun labeled him as a Canuck hunter in its Sunday edition.
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The Suns Iain Macintyre writes:
Edler was hit hard shoulder-to-shoulder by Jamie McGinn in a race to the puck near the corner.Edler dropped his stick, skated immediately to the bench and was hunched over in obvious discomfort in the final minute of the second period. He did not return for the third period.Just got a big hit there at the end of the second period, Vigneault said. Upper body, and he'll be re-evaluated tomorrow.
There was nothing dirty about the hit, which McGinn talked about after Sharks practice on Sunday.
Im just finishing my checks. I never want anyone to get hurt, and I try and play a real clean game, he said. I think it was one of those ones where were both just running into each other. I didnt realize he was hurt after; I just kind of kept going. Its never a good thing when someone goes out to injury, but thats just the way I play. I just try and play hard-nosed.
McGinn sensed a carryover effect from the playoffs, as the teams were meeting for the first time since the Canucks ended the Sharks season.
San Jose Sharks
It kind of continued on from playoffs. It was a physical game and a high-paced game. We knew we were going to get their best, and they played real well. I thought we were really solid. We fixed up some things we wanted to fix. The outcome wasnt what we wanted, but the good thing is its a long season and we get to hop right back on it Monday in Los Angeles and continue to do the right things again.
Edler is Vancouvers leading scorer on defense with three goals and 13 assists for 16 points.