{"id":20636,"date":"2017-12-27T22:49:37","date_gmt":"2017-12-28T03:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=20636"},"modified":"2017-12-27T22:54:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-28T03:54:14","slug":"ryan-kesler-returns-from-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/12\/27\/ryan-kesler-returns-from-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Kesler Returns From Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Anaheim Ducks<\/a> announced that centre Ryan Kesler<\/a><\/strong> will return tonight against the\u00a0Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>. This is welcome news after Kesler has missed the first thirty-seven\u00a0games of this season due to a\u00a0hip injury from the end of last season.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/AnaheimDucks\/status\/946184305683730432<\/p>\n

Ryan Kesler Returns From Injury.<\/h1>\n

Last season, Kesler scored 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points. He also added 83 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 50.9 percent Corsi\u00a0and a relative Corsi of +2.0.<\/p>\n

Over his ten-year NHL career, Kesler played for the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> and for the last three seasons with Anaheim Ducks. He has put up an impressive, 249 goals and 306 assists for 551 career points in 897\u00a0career games. He was originally drafted in the first round, 23rd overall of the 2003 NHL draft by the Vancouver Canucks.<\/p>\n

Kesler stated in a pre-game interview<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“The work is not done for me yet… there has been a lot of challenges, being on crutches for 14 weeks was one of them. Learning how to walk again was another. Just skating, getting my stride back. I feel better out there now than I did five years ago”<\/p>\n

What Does This Mean For The Ducks?<\/h2>\n

His return will be a boost for Anaheim, who has been plagued with injuries since early on in this season. They are still missing some key players such\u00a0as Corey Perry<\/a><\/strong>, who was the top scorer for The Ducks before going out with a lower-body injury<\/a>. Along with Patrick Eaves<\/a><\/strong>, who might not play this season as he battles Guillain-Barre Syndrome<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With fellow centre\u00a0Ryan Getzlaf<\/a>, who is in top form since returning, they can rival any centre collection in the league. They will also need the physicality of both of them to beat the Golden Knights tonight.<\/p>\n

The Ducks currently cling to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.\u00a0 A healthy team will help them maintain that status in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>