"While there are fears Ryan O'Reilly will possibly miss the rest of the season with a left shoulder injury, concerns of a possible serious head or neck injury proved unfounded Saturday. That was the good news that emerged about the Avalanche's 19-year-old third-line center, who was involved in a frightening head- first collision into the boards Friday night at Minnesota. While O'Reilly escaped injury to his head or neck, the team said he suffered a left shoulder injury. The team said it would not have a prognosis for another day or two, but there are fears of a separation or dislocation. Such injuries can require surgery and weeks or months of recovery. Last month, Avalanche defenseman Kyle Quincey suffered a separated shoulder that required season-ending surgery. O'Reilly was taken off the ice by stretcher in the second period after losing his balance and crashing into the boards. He was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul and released in time to fly to Denver with the team. The Avalanche has battled injuries all season, so the loss of O'Reilly again requires a reshuffling of personnel up front. If he is out, it's likely TJ Galiardi takes his spot in the lineup. Galiardi has played at left wing most of the last two years, but center was his natural position coming up. When he first played with the Avs at the end of the 2008-09 season, Galiardi skated at center. Galiardi was a healthy scratch in Friday's game for the first time this season." Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_17109172
