Getzlaf On Injury: 'Hopefully I Can Play Tomorrow' by Staff Writer / Anaheim Ducks

"It’s not in my nature at all to step away from the game unless someone forces me to. It’s been tough and not easy to deal with." A day after missing Game 4 in Dallas with what is being described only as an "upper-body injury, Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf spoke to reporters today back at Honda Center. Getzlaf, who is listed a questionable for tomorrow night's Game 5, would not discuss the nature of the injury, but did say, "hopefully I can play tomorrow." A day after missing Game 4 in Dallas with what is being described only as an "upper-body injury, Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf spoke to reporters today back at Honda Center. Getzlaf, who is listed a questionable for tomorrow night's Game 5, would not discuss the nature of the injury, but did say, "hopefully I can play tomorrow."





On missing Game 4,

That’s a big thing that obviously sucks. I don’t think I’ve missed a playoff game in my career, so it was a tough thing to watch last night and not be a part of it. But that’s the way it is. It’s not in my nature at all to step away from the game unless someone forces me to. It’s been tough and not easy to deal with.



On his injury,

I’m not really going to discuss what exactly is going on. That’s what we’ve always done here during the playoffs. I wish I could give you insight on it, but I’m just not allowed to. I do know that it’s questionable for tomorrow. We’re going through different things today and doing our process to get ready for tomorrow. It’s just a matter of rallying around each other right now and making sure we put our best foot forward.



On what he can do as a leader when not playing,

We go through our meetings and stuff. I’m not moping around the room, that’s for sure. It’s a matter of getting the guys back to where we need to be, getting our mind set for the next one. We said right from the start we thought it was going to be a long series. Now we’ve got to hold our home-ice advantage. We worked hard during the season to get it, and we’ve got to hold it tomorrow.



On the team's mood in the locker room,

It’s good. Today we watched a little video and guys got to relax a little bit and get that excitement back in the locker room for tomorrow.



On watching the game on TV,

I didn’t get to see the first and second period. I was listening on the radio, stuck in traffic trying to get to my [doctor’s] appointment. But there aren’t a whole lot of big secrets out there at this point of the year, I don’t think. Watching the game, it was a little frustrating at times. As it is for everybody that watches from above, everything looks so easy and slow from upstairs. I know what it’s like down on the ice when things happen quickly.



On the team missing him on the ice,

The overall thing is that I play in most situations. So when I sit and watch or listen, those are situations where I feel like I can help the team. But we have guys who have stepped up and played big roles during the year, and we may need that tomorrow again. But hopefully I can play tomorrow.



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