The first wrench has been thrown into what has otherwise been a near-perfect start to the Pittsburgh Penguins' season.
Star defenceman Sergei Gonchar suffered a broken wrist during Tuesday's 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues and will miss about six weeks. The team announced that the injury will not require surgery.
The injury happened midway through the second period, when Gonchar landed awkwardly after taking a hit from David Backes. Gonchar immediately left the ice after the play.
The Penguins are off to an outstanding 8-1-0 start this season, tops in the NHL. Gonchar has been a big contributor to the club's success with eight points in nine games (2G, 6A). He is tied for second in team scoring with Sidney Crosby, and leads the team with an average of more than 24 minutes of ice time per game.
Gonchar also missed a significant amount of time last season. The blueliner was out 56 games after suffering a dislocated shoulder on a bodycheck during the preseason. Gonchar was a big spark when he returned to the team in second half of the campaign, as the team went 17-4-4 and eventually captured the Stanley Cup.
Martin Skoula will take Gonchar's spot in the line-up when the Penguins play their next game on Friday against Florida.