Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival will miss the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after sustaining a fractured left ankle in Game 4 of their Western Conference Second Round series against the Minnesota Wild.
"He will require surgery to repair it. He is not expected to return to full hockey activity until next season," the Blackhawks said in a statement Friday.
In the second period, Rozsival fell awkwardly in the neutral zone while skating backward to defend Wild forward Thomas Vanek after Nino Niederreiter lifted the puck from the Minnesota end into the Chicago zone. Play continued for 14 seconds with Rozsival unable to get up, and Chicago goalie Corey Crawford made a right-pad save to deny Vanek on a breakaway.
Rozsival could not put weight on his left leg and needed help getting off the ice and to the locker room with 6:37 remaining.
"You hate to see your teammates in pain like that," Chicago left wing Patrick Sharp said.