Canucks’ Virtanen knocked out of game vs. Ducks by Getzlaf cross-check

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks rookie Jake Virtanen sustained an upper-body injury in the first period of Monday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. 

Virtanen, 19, was attempting to blow the zone with control of the puck when he was cross-checked from behind by Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf. Virtanen collapsed to the ice in obvious pain, as the on-ice officials assessed a minor penalty against Getzlaf.

The young Canucks winger left the game and will not return with what the Canucks have confirmed is an upper-body ailment, according to the Sportsnet broadcast.

You can see the sequence on which Virtanen sustained his injury here:

(Courtesy: Sportsnet)

It’s a cheap shot, but it’s not a gratuitous one really. It’s just too bad that Virtanen was hurt as a result of Getzlaf’s stubborn refusal, and or inability, to move his feet.

The Canucks are calling the ailment an upper-body injury, but presumably they’ll share more details regarding Virtanen’s status after Monday night’s contest. We’ll update this post to reflect the latest news when it breaks.