Ducks’ Giguere re-injured groin Saturday; defenseman Sbisa to be reassigned

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The injury that knocked Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere out of Saturday’s 6-4 loss to Columbus after he failed to stop the game-winning goal in the third period was what it appeared: an aggravation of a nagging groin injury.

‘I threw my leg out,’ Giguere said after sitting out of today’s practice. ‘It made it worse.’

In another development, Ducks management has decided to reassign Luca Sbisa, the promising young defenseman acquired from Philadelphia along with forward Joffrey Lupul in the Chris Pronger trade. Sbisa will not be eligible to return the NHL this season.

‘He still is only 19 years old,’ Coach Randy Carlyle said. ‘A lot of it has to do with the way we’re playing too. We think the young player has come in and played fairly well, but in the situation we’re in right now, we think it could be a detriment to have him in the pressure situation we’re in. For any young player, our message, and I know it’s a difficult one for the player to take -- he’s going from playing in the NHL to possibly having to play back in junior hockey. The decision is based upon [the idea that] we want him to play in the league for 15 years, not for five years.’

Giguere appears unlikely to dress as the backup to Jonas Hiller for Monday’s game against Toronto, meaning Justin Pogge could be recalled from minor league affiliate Bakersfield for the second time in a week. Pogge didn’t even dress for a game in his whirlwind round trip to be on call for Wednesday’s game. His chances look better this time, with Giguere and the Ducks intent on being cautious, though Giguere did not anticipate a long-term injury.

‘Right now, I don’t foresee this being a problem,’ Giguere said.

-- Robyn Norwood