Colorado Avalanche right-winger Dennis Everberg suffered a shoulder injury in Tuesday night’s win over the Nashville Predators. In his post-game press conference, head coach Patrick Roy indicated that the rookie will likely miss the two remaining games on the Avs’ schedule.
“[Everberg] is probably finished for the season with a shoulder injury,” coach Roy said.
If he is indeed unable to play again this year, Everberg will wrap up his surprising rookie season with three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 55 games. The 23-year-old unexpectedly made the Avalanche roster out of training camp and proved valuable enough to keep around. Standing 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he provides the Avalanche with size, physicality, and good hands in their bottom-six forward group.
Everberg previously missed eight games in late November with a separated shoulder. Coach Roy did not say if the injuries were related or not.
The Swedish forward logged just 4:31 of ice time before exiting Tuesday’s game in the second period.
While no injury is good news, there was a silver lining on Tuesday night. Following Everberg’s departure, Joey Hishon was promoted to his spot on the third line. Hishon responded by tallying the game-winner with his first career NHL goal. Coach Roy said Hishon will now get an expanded opportunity in the final two games. Hishon – Colorado’s 2010 first round draft pick – is trying to finally get his career on track after having the early stages derailed by post-concussion syndrome.
Coach Roy did not reveal if the Avalanche plan to call a forward up from the Lake Erie Monsters to replace Everberg for the final two games of the season.
Nathan is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached on Twitter at @TheRealNatron.
