Islander captain Michael Peca is scheduled to have surgery on his torn left anterior cruciate ligament next Wednesday to repair the injury that will keep him shelved until January.
Peca sustained the tear and strained the medial collateral ligament in the knee during the first round of the playoffs on a controversial hit by Darcy Tucker in Game 5 of the seven-game series loss to the Maple Leafs.
The operation will be performed by Dr. Elliott Hershman, Chief of Orthopedics at ProHEALTH Care Associates.
Last week, Peca had surgery on his bothersome left shoulder that he aggravated in just the first game of the season in Tampa. That operation was conducted by Dr. J.P. Warner at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Peca played with discomfort in the shoulder for the remainder of the season. The operation was called a “stabilizing procedure” by the team.
It is believed Peca hurt the shoulder when he barreled into the photographers’ bin at the Tampa Ice Palace Oct. 6, a 3-2 Islander win in which he scored a goal.
The AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Isles’ primary farm team, were looking to advance to the Calder Cup Finals last night with a win over Hamilton in their best-of-seven series.
Bridgeport led the series 3-2 and needed one more win to propel them to the finals vs. Western Conference champion Chicago.
Islanders are seeking prospective Ice Girls for next season after making a hit with the idea of having pretty skaters shovel the snow from the goal creases last year.
Tryouts will take place at the Syosset Iceworks in August and are limited to those 18 years or older with ice skating experience. For more information, call the team at 516-501-6743.