Canucks' Edler (concussion) sidelined after face-first fall

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler suffered a concussion from a hard face-first fall on Monday night and will be out for at least one week, coach Travis Green told reporters on Tuesday. Edler spent the night in a Philadelphia-area hospital after being wheeled off on a stretcher during Vancouver's 2-1 loss to the Flyers. Green told reporters that Edler didn't suffer any facial fractures but needed stitches due to the fall.

Green said Edler was traveling back to Vancouver. The Canucks were slated to visit the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Edler suffered the injury during the first period of Monday's game when his skate got caught in the stick of Philadelphia's Jakub Voracek. The 32-year-old Edler lost his balance and was unable to brace for the fall, and his face slammed right into the ice.

Edler has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 38 games this season. Meanwhile, goaltender Thatcher Demko injured a knee in warmups on Monday and was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam.

The Canucks recalled defenseman Guillaume Brisebois from Utica of the American Hockey League and goaltender Mike DiPietro prior to the game against Washington. Vancouver said DiPietro was being summoned from Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League on an "emergency basis." --Field Level Media