Stars Guerin out 4-6 weeks

VALLEY RANCH, Texas, March 2 (UPI) -- Bill Guerin, who is second on the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars in goals and points, is expected to miss at least a month following emergency thigh surgery Saturday night.

Guerin suffered a severe thigh contusion Thursday when he

collided with Ottawa's Chris Phillips in the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss. He missed the rest of the game and sat out Friday's 5-3 setback in Buffalo.

The injury caused a compartment syndrome in Guerin's thigh, a condition where the internal bleeding becomes so severe that it cuts off circulation to the muscle and the pressure must be relieved through surgery.

The procedure was performbed by team physician Dr. Dan Cooper at Baylor Medical Center. Guerin is expected to miss four to six weeks and will be re-evaluated as his condition improves.

The regular season ends April 6, meaning Guerin could return in time for the first round of the playoffs.

Signed over the summer to a five-year contract worth some $50 million, Guerin has 25 goals and 25 assists in 64 games. He scored a career-high 41 goals for Boston last season and led the NHL with 355 shots on goal.