The Calgary Flames‘ push to make the playoffs just got a bit harder.
The team announced on Friday that captain Mikael Backlund will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
The forward was injured in the first period of Wednesday’s shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Backlund delivered a big hit to Canucks defenceman Victor Mancini and appeared to be in some discomfort afterward.
He logged just 2:58 of ice time over five shifts, his last coming a little more than halfway through the first.
Through 63 games this season, Backlund has 24 points (11 goals and 13 assists).
The Flames kept their wild-card spot in the Western Conference with the point earned but are now tied with the Canucks at 71 points, though the Flames have one game in hand.
