Filppula to miss Olympics with broken ankle

Valtteri Filppula will not be able suit up for Team Finland at the Olympics after suffering a fractured ankle. (Chris O'Meara/AP)

Valtteri Filppula will not be able suit up for Team Finland at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward suffered a broken ankle in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday.

Filppula is expected to miss at least three weeks while recovering from the injury.

The 29-year-old has been a key player for the Lightning this season, registering 20 goals and 41 points in 56 games.

The Sochi Games were to be Filppula’s second Olympic appearance; he helped lead Finland to a bronze medal in Vancouver in 2010.

Team Finland officials have yet to name a replacement.

Filppula is the latest high profile NHLer to drop out of the Olympics with an injury. Filppula’s Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos (Canada), Vancouver Canucks captain Henrik Sedin (Sweden), Columbus Blue Jackets sniper Marian Gaborik (Slovakia) and Detroit Red Wings winger Johan Franzen (Sweden) have all recently been forced to withdraw from the tournament.

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