Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Smyth is out
indefinitely after suffering a fractured thumb in Saturday night's
4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Smyth played only two shifts in the first period before suffering
the injury. He was wearing a cast after the game, but the team said
surgery likely won't be required.
``I couldn't move my thumb,'' Smyth said after the game. ``I had
no movement at all. I thought maybe it was dislocated or something.
``I hated to leave. You want to be out there contributing.''
The 30-year-old leads the Oilers with 16 goals in 25 games this
season. His absence comes on the heels of the Oilers losing
third-leading scorer Ales Hemsky to a shoulder injury. Hemsky, who
was hurt in Edmonton's loss to Anaheim on Nov. 28, is expected to
miss another week or two.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
