Avalanche C Sakic out indefinitely

Nov 30, 2008 - 4:40 PM DENVER (Ticker) -- Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic will be sidelined indefinitely with a back injury.

The 39-year-old center, who has been limited him to five games in November, played only one shift in Friday's 2-1 loss in Phoenix. He sat out Saturday's 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

Coach Tony Granato said Sakic would not accompany the team to Minnesota for Monday's game.

It's expected that Sakic will undergo a second MRI in the coming days.

Sakic has two goals and 10 assists in 15 games this season. He is tied for fourth on the team in scoring with 12 points.

Since straining his back during a weight room session earlier this month, Sakic has played only one full game - Wednesday against St. Louis. He has missed seven games and made brief appearances in two others.

Sakic registered 13 goals and 27 assists last campaign and added two tallies and eight assists in the postseason as Colorado reached the Western Conference semifinals.

Drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987, Sakic moved to Colorado with the franchise in 1996 and has been the team's captain for 16 seasons. Sakic has 625 goals, 1,016

assists for 1,641 points in 1,378 career games.