(My Sportsbook) - The St. Louis Blues lost more than just the game in Sunday's 2-1 setback to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Rookie Petr Cajanek sustained a fractured left fibula in the second period of the loss and could be out for up to six weeks.

"Petr's going to be out for a while," said head coach Joel Quenneville. "The X-rays showed he got a fractured fibula."

With 6:40 remaining in the second period and the Blues leading 1-0 on Pavol Demitra's goal a minute earlier, Cajanek went behind Anaheim's net and ducked under defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski to play the puck.

Vishnevski reached around Cajanek and pulled the Czech center along as he lost his balance. With Cajanek's body yanked back, Anaheim's defenseman landed on Cajanek's leg. No penalty was called on the play.

Cajanek, an eighth-round selection by St. Louis in the 2001 draft, was named MVP of the Czech Elite League for the 2000-2001 season where he ranked second in the league with 64 points.

The 27-year-old forward is tied for fifth on the team in scoring and has recorded 30 points (7g, 23a) in 44 games this season.

If losing Cajanek was not enough for the Blues, the team went on and allowed two unanswered goals in the third period for their first loss in three games and squandered an excellent chance of moving into a first-place tie with the idle Detroit Red Wings atop the Central Division.

"It doesn't happen very often," Quenneville said. "I can't recall the last time we lost in regulation with a two-period lead. I think it was maybe on opening night last year in L.A. But we had a pretty good run, in that regard."

After Jason Krog tied the game 7:35 into the final period, the Ducks were given a power play with 7:03 left in the game when Alexander Khavanov was whistled off for high-sticking and took advantage just over a minute later for the go-ahead goal.

Paul Kariya and Adam Oates worked the puck along the left wing and Oates sent a pass to the center point for Niclas Havelid, who fired a shot toward the net. Steve Rucchin was in front trying to provide a screen and the puck caromed off St. Louis defenseman Bryce Salvador before going through Brent Johnson's pads. The goal was initially credited to Rucchin, but later changed to Havelid, who notched his eighth of the season.

"It's unfortunate that they had to score the winning goal on a power play," Blues captain Al MacInnis said. "A lot of times you get frustrated out there when the refereeing gets a little inconsistent. But at the same time, when you go into the third period with a one-goal lead, you should be able to close the deal."

WHAT'S AHEAD

St. Louis will close its five-game road trip in Phoenix on Tuesday before heading home for a pair of games against the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.