BLUES HOCKEY McDonald breaks leg during loss to Canadiens

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis center Andy McDonald is expected to be sidelined eight weeks after breaking his left leg during a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

Blues coach Andy Murray said Monday that McDonald was hurt when he crashed into the corner boards late in the first period.

MRI results revealed no further damage and surgery is not required. He isn't expected back until at least mid-January for a Blues team that is currently 15th in the Western Conference standings.

McDonald, who leads the Blues with 18 points, had scored five goals in five games before Sunday. He appeared to be avoiding taking a stick to the face when he suddenly buckled awkwardly into the corner and went down immediately. He had to be helped off the ice and did not put any weight on his left leg.

The injury is the latest in a string of unfortunate and strange injuries the Blues have suffered this season.

They lost cornerstone defenseman Erik Johnson for the season when he tore ligaments in his knee on a golf outing, goalie Manny Legace injured his hip and groin Oct. 24 while stepping onto a carpet on the ice during pregame warm-ups the night Alaska governor Sarah Palin was to drop the ceremonial first puck, and rookie center T.J. Oshie suffered a high ankle sprain Nov. 1 immediately after taking a faceoff in a game against Pittsburgh.

-- AP