By Erin K. Blakeley, Shoulder1 Staff
Buffalo Sabres Center Erik Rasmussen is not likely to start in the second round of the NHL playoffs, due to a mildly separated shoulder.
The twenty-three year old Rasmussen suffered the injury during the second game of the first round of the NHL playoffs. After heading down the ice on a breakaway attempt, Rasmussen crashed into the boards, injuring his shoulder. He sat out the next three games, before returning to action for Saturday night’s 8-0 decisive victory to win the series.
“That's something you just deal with,” Rasmussen reported last week to the AP. “This isn't going to keep me out of the playoffs for the rest of the time. It's just a little slight setback right now.'”
The three bones that comprise the shoulder are the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Ligaments fasten these bones together, both by surrounding the joint and by holding the clavicle in place. A separated shoulder, also known as Acromioclavicular Joint Separation, occurs when these ligaments weaken, sprain or tear. A separated shoulder can range in severity, depending on whether the ligaments were sprained or torn.
Rasmussen had 12 goals and 19 assets during regular season play. His one assist during the playoffs came in setting up the winning goal, shortly after he was injured.
