NHL play-off hopefuls the Calgary Flames have been dealt a blow after captain Mark Giordano was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a torn bicep on Monday.
Giordano is expected to undergo surgery later in the week to repair a torn biceps tendon in his left arm and is facing four to five months on the sidelines.
The 31-year-old defenseman was injured in the Flames' 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday after getting tangled up in the stick of opponent Steve Bernier.
Giordano's absence is a blow for the Flames (33-25-4), who trail the Minnesota Wild by three points for the second Western Conference wildcard spot into the Stanley Cup play-offs.
"It's a tendon tear... a complete tendon tear," general manager Brad Treliving said.
"[Giordano] looked at every avenue to not go through that procedure and see if he could keep playing and see if there was a time that it settles down over time.
"We're not going to risk anything with him. There is no opportunity for him to play. This is the only measure that's left.
"Obviously that's not the news we wanted to hear but that’s what will happen."
Giordano tallied 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points in 61 games this season.
"He was devastated," Treliving said.
"It's devastating for all of us. The next message to the team is this is what we've been dealt.
"We respond one of two ways: you hang your head or you pick your head up and you say 'what’s next'. Mark's situation or Mark's reaction... he hasn't been in this situation with this team for a long time when we're pushing at this time of year. This is when the games are fun. This is our heartbeat of our team.
"He was, as you'd expect Mark to be, he was devastated by the news. We talked to him a lot and we've tried to cheer each other up. Haven't done a great job of it but we're getting there. This is not what he wanted but this is what it is and so we'll deal with it."