Canucks' Bieksa out indefinitely with multiple hand fractures; will require surgery

The Vancouver Canucks will be without key defenseman Kevin Bieksa indefinitely, the club announced Wednesday.

Bieksa, 33, left Tuesday night's game between the Canucks and the Tampa Bay Lightning with an apparent hand injury and it was revealed by Sportsnet's Dan Murphy on Wednesday that the injury is multiple hand fractures. The injury will require surgery.

The veteran defender has logged the second most minutes among all Canucks defenders this season and has been leaned on in a second-pairing role mostly alongside replacement level third-pairing guys like Ryan Stanton and Luca Sbisa this season.

Expect 21-year-old blue-liner Frank Corrado to get an extended look in Vancouver's top-four while Bieksa convalesces.