McLean gone for at least 4 weeks
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean will miss at least four weeks of action because of arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday.

Team surgeon Ross Davidson, who also performed surgery on the knee in January, performed the operation.

McLean complained of soreness after Vancouver's 3-2 win Monday night in New York over the Rangers when he made 34 saves.

Corey Hirsch was in goal Wednesday night when the Canucks lost 5-4 on the road to the New York Islanders.

Mike Fountain was recalled from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League to back up Hirsch and earned the shutout in his first NHL appearance in Vancouver's 3-0 victory over New Jersey on Thursday night.

Hirsch started 19 consecutive games last season when McLean was sidelined.

McLean, 30, has been Vancouver's No. 1 goaltender for nearly 10 seasons. The problem in his left knee was with what remained of torn cartilage.



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