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Ballard sidelined while injury baffles Canucks

Joe Pavelski, Keith Ballard

San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) throws his gloves off as he fights with Vancouver Canucks’ Keith Ballard during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. The Canucks won 4-3. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Keith Ballard will miss his third consecutive game tonight with an injury that isn’t totally clear to his team, according to NHL.com’s Kevin Woodley.

Alain Vigneault said that the Canucks aren’t sure if it’s “neck-related or concussion-related.” Ballard is dealing with headaches but Vancouver is unsure of the root cause, so he’ll be out until the team’s doctors figure that out.

As Woodley points out, the line between concussion and neck-related injuries blurred in a high-profile way with Sidney Crosby’s neck issues, so it’s not surprising that the Canucks are handling this situation with kid gloves. The bigger surprise to some might be that Ballard’s a more prominent piece of the puzzle in Vancouver after being a fairly routine (and expensive) healthy scratch during the 2010-11 season and playoffs.