Carter, Marchant are hurt, creating a void at center

The Ducks’ depth at center took a sizable hit Wednesday in their 3-2 shootout win over Colorado.

Rookie Ryan Carter suffered a fractured right wrist and veteran Todd Marchant a bruised shoulder on separate plays.

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said there is no timetable for either player at this point. Carter’s injury is the more serious, although Carlyle said he doesn’t expect that surgery will be required.

Carter, who has four goals and eight points in 33 games, has been one of the team’s pleasant surprises this season. He was put on injured reserve, and the team recalled center Andrew Ebbett from minor league Portland, Maine.

“Obviously this is a young player that was playing and earning minutes and making a contribution in his first year,” Carlyle said.

Carter caught his wrist in a cutout in the plexiglass that’s used for photographers to shoot game action, as he was being checked by Colorado defenseman Jeff Finger. The cutout is also covered by another plexiglass door that slides over it on the spectator side.

Carlyle said he had never seen such an injury take place. “A freak accident,” he said.

Marchant was hurt on a body check as he tried to cut between two Avalanche defenders into the offensive zone in the second period. He’s probably day to day but won’t be available tonight against St. Louis and is doubtful for Sunday against Chicago.

“The first couple of days, you have to kind of let it settle down,” Marchant said. “And then try a little rehab on it. Hopefully it won’t be too long.”

The Ducks still have Ryan Getzlaf and Samuel Pahlsson up the middle, but they tried Todd Bertuzzi at center Wednesday night and had Teemu Selanne skating there during Thursday’s practice.

Brian Sutherby figures to be back in the lineup after being scratched the last two games. That was all Carlyle would divulge about potential line combinations.

“I’m trying to be as vague as possible,” he said. “Can’t you tell?”

Another injured center noted the recent developments.

Doug Weight said his instinct is to get back to the ice as soon as possible, but he also realizes that he can’t afford to rush back before his strained left shoulder is healed.

Weight said the shoulder is responding to rest and rehabilitation, but it may be at least another week before he can consider playing.

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TONIGHT

vs. St. Louis, 7, FSN West

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 34-23-7, Blues 28-23-9.

Record vs. Blues -- 0-1-1.

Update -- Andy McDonald makes his return to Anaheim, where he spent the first seven-plus years of his career before going to the Blues for Weight on Dec. 14. McDonald has eight goals and 24 points in 26 games with St. Louis.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com