Ducks' Getzlaf: Missing Game 4 'not easy to deal with'
Ryan Getzlaf was already back in Anaheim to deal with a nagging upper-body injury when the Ducks lost 4-2 to the Dallas Stars in Game 4.
If it were up to Getzlaf, he would be out on the ice no matter what.
Getzlaf: "It's not in my nature to step away from the game unless somebody's forcing me to. It's been tough and not easy to deal with."
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) April 24, 2014
Getzlaf's status for Game 5 on Friday could be the difference in the series after the Stars won Games 3 and 4 in Dallas. The uncertainty surrounding his injury and game availability does not seem to be sitting well with Anaheim's captain.
Clearly Getzlaf has been meeting with team doctors since heading back home. Guy wants to play badly but probably needs to gain clearance.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) April 24, 2014
Despite the difficulties, Getzlaf is still playing an active role preparing the team for Friday's contest, as he told reporters on Thursday.
I’m not moping around the room, that’s for sure. It’s a matter of getting the guys back to where we need to be, getting our mind set for the next one. We said right from the start we thought it was going to be a long series. Now we’ve got to hold our home-ice advantage. We worked hard during the season to get it, and we’ve got to hold it tomorrow.