"If you mapped Sami Salo's injuries, it would look like one of those posters of where different cuts of beef come from on the wall in your butcher shop, every segment of the body marked by dotted lines.

Salo, as if on cue, left Monday's game and didn't return after taking a puck on his left elbow or forearm.

If he can't play against Colorado on Wednesday it will be the 36-year-old's 41st injury and will have come in Game 16 of his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

With 681 NHL games to his credit, that makes it an average of an injury every 16.61 games.

And to think it looked to be Salo's night just two minutes before he blocked Kyle Brodziak's shot, Cal Clutterbuck's skate just missing him as the Minnesota forward tumbled head over heels into the Canucks bench.

"I have no clue, other than he got hit with the puck and that it hurt," Keith Ballard said, shaking his head at what could be yet another injury to a Canucks defenceman. "It seems like that's how it's been.

"He's another guy that for me, not playing against him too much in the last couple of years, once you see him in practice and in games, you really appreciate how good he is.

"I've learned a lot just from watching him."

Kevin Bieksa skated before the Canucks' morning skate Monday and there's a chance he'll take in a full practice today.

"[Salo] took that shot off his arm there and we'll re-evaluate it [today]," Alain Vigneault said. "I know it's not broken. It's numb, that's all I know."

Salo was seen to leave on his own, before the game was over."