Getzlaf

Getzlaf discusses the injury

With a boot still protecting his injured left ankle and an electrical stimulation device tucked into it, Ryan Getzlaf told reporters Wednesday morning that he has high hopes for getting back on the ice this weekend.

"Skating Friday or Saturday is our goal right now," Getzlaf said. "Hopefully I can play Sunday or even Saturday, for that matter. Those definitely are the goals right now, to progress this week, stay off it for the next couple of days, then maybe put the skates on Friday or Saturday.

"All signs are point to things progressing to the way we want it to. We have our fingers crossed and hopefully things will keep going the same way and we don’t have any setbacks."

Getzlaf sprained the ankle in the second period of Anaheim's 4-2 victory over the Kings two nights ago and didn't return to the game. He said the way the ankle feels now is in sharp contrast to what he was experiencing that night.

"When I first suffered the injury it was a lot of pain and a pretty big scare for me, obviously, with the situation we’re in with the Ducks and trying to push for a playoff spot and finish strong before the break and obviously with the Olympics coming up," he said. "Right now it’s a lot better. I’m walking without pain. Obviously, I have the boot on still, but that’s just protecting it and making sure I don’t do any more damage.

"I woke up this morning and was walking a lot better and I’m off the crutches and all that stuff, so everything is pointing in the right direction."

While Getzlaf understands that his availability for Team Canada in next week's Olympics is a concern, he says his first priority is with the Ducks.

"First and foremost, we’re trying to finish strong before the break," he said. "That’s a big thing for our group right now. Our team is playing well and we need to get our points when we can. The sooner I get back to the lineup, the better off I’m going to be and our team is going to be."

He also knows he needs to prove to Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman that he's ready to go when the Olympics start early next week. "Obviously, going into the Olympics, I do need to skate, I do need to play or have a hard practice to show them I’m ready to play," Getzlaf said. "In a short tournament like that, you can’t afford to go in injured."