Sources close to the situation tell us Ryan Johansen, one of the Nashville Predator's superstars in this run for the cup, is done for the playoffs.
A team statement just released says:
During last night’s game, Ryan Johansen sustained a left thigh injury that required emergency surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The surgery was successful, and the estimated recovery time is two to three months.
The injury has forced an end to his season and the Preds will have to find a way to win without him centering the team's most lethal top line.
There are also serious questions about the health of center Mike Fisher. Down the middle, the team's in perilous shape.
His stellar stats don't tell the whole story. He's been instrumental in setting up his linemates, Victor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg, for success.
It's not hard to imagine how he got the injury. The Ducks have been playing dirty, intentionally singling out Johansen with jabs behind the action and after the whistle (in our opinion).
He complained about it Sunday night, speaking about Duck forward Ryan Kesler.
This injury is exactly what we feared might happen. We even debuted a song parody about the Ducks kind of play Friday morning.
Are we biased? We love our team. Yes, but we call it as we see it. Check out this unbiased observer's account of Anaheim's strategic cheatery.