Blackhawks' Michal Rozsival exits with apparent ankle injury

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival left the ice Thursday after suffering an apparent left-ankle injury during the second period of a 4-3 win that capped a sweep of the Minnesota Wildin the Western Conference semifinals.

Rozsival tripped while he was skating backward, twisted his left ankle as he was falling and landed on it as he hit the ice.He laid face-first and was quickly joined by the team's medical staff.

"Tough loss," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said of Rozsival's injury. "Doesn't look good."

Rozsival was unable to put pressure on the ankle as he was helped off the ice by teammates Duncan Keith and Brad Richards at 6:37 of the second period. He was immediately taken to the team's dressing room and did not return.

"You hate to see your teammates in pain like that," Blackhawks forwardPatrick Sharpsaid. "I'm not sure what the diagnosis is and how he's doing. I haven't seen him yet. To see the way the defense stepped up and played short-handed from basically the halfway point of the game on was impressive. Credit to them."

Rozsival, 36, has appeared in all 10 of the Blackhawks' playoff games. He has one assist in the playoffs. He had one goal and 12 assists in 65 regular-season games this season.