Blues center McDonald out eight weeks

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- St. Louis Blues center Andy McDonald is expected to miss the next eight weeks with a fractured left leg, the team announced Monday.

McDonald, 31, had an MRI exam which determined surgery will not be necessary after the injury occurred late in the first period of Sunday's loss to Montreal.

McDonald has six goals and 12 assists with a minus-12 rating in 16 games this season, his second with the Blues. St. Louis acquired the 5- foot-11, 183-pounder from Anaheim Dec. 14, 2007, in exchange for Doug Weight, Michal Birner and a seventh-round pick in the 2008 draft.