Ducks’ Trevor Zegras ‘fine’ after slash on leg in loss to Avalanche

One moment, Ducks rookie center Trevor Zegras was darting past Colorado Avalanche defenders, controlling the puck as if it was on a string. Then, suddenly, he was lying on the ice inside the center faceoff circle, angry and in pain after he was slashed on the back of his left leg.

Zegras limped to the bench and then needed assistance to reach the dressing room on the opposite side of the rink 7:22 into the Ducks’ 5-4 overtime loss Sunday in the Rookie Faceoff Tournament at Scottsdale, Arizona. He was held out of the rest of the game for precautionary reasons.

The Ducks later said Zegras, their top prospect and one of their brightest hopes for a speedy conclusion to their ongoing rebuilding efforts, was “fine.” His status for Monday’s tournament finale against the Arizona Coyotes was uncertain. Training camp begins Thursday in Irvine.

Zegras, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, scored one goal and set up two others in an 8-4 victory Friday over the San Jose Sharks. He had three goals and 10 assists in 24 games last season with the Ducks and 10 goals and 11 assists in 17 games with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.

The Ducks also played Sunday without center Mason McTavish, the third overall pick in July, because of an undisclosed injury that has been troubling him. McTavish also had a goal and two assists Friday against the Sharks, a far more wide-open contest than Sunday’s game.

Sean Tschigrel, Jack Badini, Alex Limoges and Jacob Perreault scored for the Ducks against the Avalanche. Limoges and Perreault scored in the final 61 seconds, with goaltender Roman Durny on the bench in favor of a sixth attacker, to force the game to OT. Gage Alexander is expected to start Monday against Arizona.