Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows will miss at least two weeks with a lower-body injury, according to head coach John Tortorella.
Burrows was injured while blocking a shot during a five-on-three penalty kill in Vancouver’s season-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The 32-year-old finished the game but was seen limping afterward and was reported to be in a walking boot.
The Canucks blocked 22 shots against the Sharks and Tortorella defended his strategy Saturday morning despite the injury to Burrows.
“I know you are probably going to ask about 15 questions about shot blocking,” Tortorella said. “Alex Burrows made the right play and if he doesn’t make that play, he’d probably never play a five-on-three again here, so don’t turn it into that. It was the right play. Injuries happen in a lot of different ways, so we’ll continue to try to play defence – not just shot block – play defence the way you are supposed to.”
Due to Zack Kassian’s suspension, the Canucks don’t have another forward to play and will not call one up from the AHL. Instead the team will dress another defenceman to replace the roster spot left by Burrows.
Burrows, who had no points and a minus-one rating in Vancouver’s first game, recorded 13 goals, 11 assists and a plus-15 rating in 47 games for Vancouver last season.
