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Avalanche lose defenseman Belak
Sun. Dec. 13, 1998.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Already without five regular defensemen, including holdout and All-Star Sandis Ozolinsh, the Colorado Avalanche lost defenseman Wade Belak in the first period of Saturday's 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Appearing in just his 13th game this season, Belak was helped off the ice and taken to a hospital after injuring his right knee in a fight with Krzysztof Oliwa. He suffered a bruise and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Denver from New Jersey. Just eight seconds after the Devils opened the scoring, Belak tangled with Oliwa. Oliwa landed a right hand, buckling Belak, who dragged the 6-4, 213-pounder to the ice. Belak's knee awkwardly bent underneath him.