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| Drew Stafford didn't return Friday night after hurting his right ankle during a collision with Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara midway through the third period, according to the AP. Stafford is a very underrated young player who has 13 goals and 27 points this season. He has star potential, so hopefully this isn't serious. |
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| The Sharks recalled Dimitri Patzold from Worcester of the AHL to once again serve as Evgeni Nabokov's backup, according to the AP. Patzold relieved Nabokov in three games earlier this season, but mostly sat on the bench as Nabokov started the Sharks' first 43 games. Patzold went back down to Worcester last month for 10 games, going 4-4-1 with a 2.94 GAA. He replaces Thomas Greiss, who was demoted to Worcester on Friday, on the Sharks' roster. |
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| Larry Kelly, the agent for Buffalo defenseman Brian Campbell, is still getting calls from the Sabres about a possible contract extension for the All-Star blueliner even though he's broken off talks with the team, according to the AP. Buffalo GM Darcy Regier said Friday he's had regular discussions with Kelly in hopes of getting contract talks restarted involving Campbell, who's in the final year of his deal. "I wouldn't call it full-blown negotiations, we're just keeping the lines of communication open to see where it goes," Regier told the AP during the first intermission of Friday's game against the Bruins. "We've had conversations. We never really stopped." We'll see what happens, but we wouldn't be surprised if Campbell got traded prior to the Feb. 26 trade deadline. |
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| Ryan Carter scored his first two NHL goals in the first period of Friday's game at New Jersey, but he still has only six points in 28 games this year. Don't expect this trend to continue, Carter is merely a checking line forward, albeit one with decent skills. |
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| The Canadiens will be without Roman Hamrlik for a third straight game Saturday night when they face the Senators in Ottawa, according to the AP. Hamrlik is suffering from a viral infection and it's unclear when he will return. He's not the player he once was, but he can still be useful in deeper leagues. |
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| Sheldon Souray underwent arthroscopic surgery Friday on the left shoulder that has sidelined him since Jan. 24, and he will see a specialist in New Jersey in four weeks to be evaluated, according to the AP. Souray originally suffered a second-degree sprain of his shoulder on October 13 at Vancouver, causing him to miss 25 games. He was activated from injured reserve on December 11 but re-injured himself just before the All-Star break in the first period of a 4-3 shootout victory at Florida and again landed on IR. |
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| Sidney Crosby returned to practice with the Penguins on Friday, almost three weeks after spraining his ankle in a crash into the boards, according to the AP. Crosby was originally expected to be out six to eight weeks. He has not revised that timetable and has no firm target date for returning. "If you want a prediction, it's not going to happen," Crosby said. "It's the most frustrating thing to really go through, because two days you can feel pretty good and one day you can wake up and it's sore. Your body needs to heal and that's the way I have to approach it." |
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| Bruins forward Glen Murray returned to the ice on Friday night for the first time since suffering a hip injury on Dec. 20 that cost him 19 games. Murray, a seven-time 20-goal-scorer, has 10 goals and 19 points in 34 games this season. |
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| Left winger Pete Vandermeer, who hasn't scored a goal and has been in 10 fights in 21 AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage this season, has been signed to an NHL contract by the Coyotes, according to the CP. The 32-year-old Vandermeer has never played an NHL game and is the brother of Flyers defenseman Jim Vandermeer. |
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| The Kings assigned goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin to Manchester of the AHL on Friday. Aubin, who was signed as free agent by Los Angeles on August 28, has posted a 5-6-1 record with a 3.19 goals-against-average and an .886 save-percentage in 19 games with the Kings this season. |
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| Flyers right-winger Joffrey Lupul has been cleared to play against the Rangers on Saturday, five days earlier than expected, according to the AP. Lupul has been sidelined since Jan. 5 with a spinal cord contusion. He suffered the injury in a collision with teammate Derian Hatcher at Toronto. |
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| Ray Emery, G, Ottawa Senators | Friday 2/8, 2:39 PM CT |
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| Ray Emery will start in goal again for the Senators on Saturday, according to the Sens' official Web site. It'll be his second straight start between the pipes; Emery allowed four goals Thursday, though he picked up a win. He's still battling with Martin Gerber for the No. 1 netminding role. |
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| Daniel Alfredsson is set to return to game action on Saturday against the Habs, according to the Senators' official Web site. Things keep getting better for the Sens and fantasy folk, since Dany Heatley returned from his injury on Thursday. Alfredsson has been out with a hip flexor injury, but it's time to activate him for the weekend. |
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| Ben Eager, LW, Chicago Blackhawks | Friday 2/8, 2:23 PM CT |
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| The Blackhawks sent Ben Eager back to Chicago on Friday in order to place him on injured reserve, according to the Chicago Tribune. Eager has 67 penalty minutes in 28 games this season, but he remains out indefinitely due to a concussion. |
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| Jonathan Toews was activated from injured reserve on Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune. That's another positive sign that he should return to game action on Sunday to face the Canucks. Coach Denis Savard said he likely would put the rookie out on power plays and penalty kills, so get ready to activate him from your fantasy IR. |
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| Pascal Leclaire will not face the Sharks on Friday. He's not traveling with the Blue Jackets for their two-game road trip due to a bruised neck, according to the Contra Costa Times. Look for Fredrik Norrena to start in Leclaire's stead. |
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| Rob Blake, D, San Jose Sharks | Friday 2/8, 11:51 AM CT |
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| The Kings likely will look to unload Rob Blake, Brad Stuart and Jaroslav Modry by the trade deadline, according to the Detroit News. The Red Wings are looking to add some depth to their blue line, so they're likely to have some discussions with the Kings. Blake, despite being out with a broken ankle, is just the kind of veteran the Wings usually eye at this time of year. It'll be interesting to see if the two squads can work out a deal. |
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| Ole-Kristian Tollefsen was dropped to the ice with a single punch to the face by Craig Weller in a brawl between the Blue Jackets and Coyotes on Thursday, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Tollie sustained a concussion, though he was lucid after the game. Odds are he's going to miss some action due to the concussion. |
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| Marty Turco should be available to return to action on Saturday after missing Thursday's game due to a sore neck, according to the Dallas Morning News. He showed improvement yesterday, and it looks like it was just a minor ailment, so be prepared to have him in your lineups this weekend. |
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| Coach Denis Savard said Wednesday that there was "no chance" that Jonathan Toews would return to action on Sunday. However, on Thursday, Savard reconsidered, according to the Chicago Tribune. Stay tuned for updates this weekend, but it's possible Toews could see plenty of action on the power play and killing penalties Sunday. He's been out since New Year's Day with a sprained knee, but he's been practicing for a week. |
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| Samuel Pahlsson will return to action on Friday, according to the LA Times. "Unless something happens, that's the plan," Pahlsson said. "I'm feeling really good." Some recent treatment on his abdominal strain has allowed him to regain full range of motion without any pain. Pahlsson's missed 20 games due to the injury. |
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| Marc-Andre Fleury has swapped out his bright yellow pads for white ones, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "There's more and more goalies wearing white these days," Fleury said. "The guys tell me it makes it look a little bigger." Anything that can give a goalie an advantage is something he should try. Of course, he'll have to return from his ankle injury before we see if it makes any difference. We should have a better idea when he'll be on the ice again after the weekend, but it could be within the next couple of weeks. |
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| Scottie Upshall sprained his lower right ankle during Wednesday's game. The joint was put in a cast on Thursday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The injury is expected to keep him out of action for 7-10 days. |
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| The Rangers expect Marcel Hossa to return to the ice Saturday or Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. Hossa has been out for a while with a back injury, but it's about time to reinsert him into your lineups. |
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| Marek Malik, D, Tampa Bay Lightning | Friday 2/8, 10:28 AM CT |
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| Marek Malik should return to game action on Saturday or Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. He's been out with a bruise just above his knee, but it looks like he should get back in the mix this weekend. |
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| Brendan Shanahan missed his third consecutive game on Thursday due to his ailing leg. Shanny's expected to miss at least the next three games, as well, according to the New York Daily News. The veteran is battling an assortment of maladies involving his leg, and you can count him out indefinitely at this point. |
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| Although Tim Connolly plans to return from his ailing hip soon, it won't be this weekend, according to the Buffalo News. Coach Lindy Ruff all but ruled Connolly out until at least next week, even though Connolly practiced on Thursday. Connolly eventually will require surgery to remove a bone spur and repair a torn labrum in his hip. The recovery from such a procedure would be about 10 weeks, which means he's hoping to avoid it until the offseason, so he can help the Sabres push into the playoffs. |
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| Peter Schaefer sustained a cut on his shin Tuesday when he blocked a shot, according to the Boston Globe. "There's always a risk of infection with those," said coach Claude Julien. "So you've got to be careful." Schaefer didn't travel with the Bruins to Buffalo for Friday's game, so keep him on your benches tonight. |
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| Glen Murray made it through a second practice Thursday without feeling the effects of his strained hip flexor, according to the Boston Globe. Assuming he gets through Friday morning's skate all right, he should return to game action in the evening. Murray, who has missed 19 games due to the ailment, has skated in practice on the third line with David Krejci and P.J. Axelsson. |
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| Kings left winger Alexander Frolov slapped home a power-play goal and added two assists in Thursday's 5-3 win over Detroit. He now has four goals and four assists in his last six games and is plus-5 during that span. Frolov recently said that he doesn't feel fully healed from a groin injury that kept out 11 games in November but his recent numbers suggest he's close. |
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| Brad Stuart, D, Detroit Red Wings | Friday 2/8, 5:30 AM CT |
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| Brad Stuart scored the go-ahead goal at 13:07 of the third period, helping the Kings upset the Redwings with a 5-3 victory at Joe Louis Arena. The NHL-leading Red Wings have a double-digit advantage over the rest of the league. |
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| Teemu Selanne has contributed in both games since returning to the lineup earlier in the week. Selanne has registered an assist in each game since rejoining the Ducks. |
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| Rangers left winger Brendan Shanahan missed his third straight game Thursday when the Ducks outskated New York in a 4-1 win. Shanahan is suffering through left leg, hip and back ailments and is questionable for Saturday's game at Philadelphia. Shanahan was healthy and productive to open the season scoring 14 goals and 15 assists in the team's first 39 games, but has either struggled to assist teammates or stay on the ice since. |
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| An MRI exam of Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson's problematic abdominal region last week was negative for any significant tear. Pahlsson is considered day-to-day but isn't expected to return to the ice until early next week. |
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| Anaheim left winger Travis Moen (flu) was inactive for the second straight game Thursday night. Moen was held out of the lineup due to a nasty flu bug. |
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| Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 32 shots in a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Thursday night. The win completed an Anaheim sweep of the New York skaters as the Ducks beat the Islanders on Tuesday. Giguere has now won his last two games after losing the previous four starts. |
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| Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe returned to the ice Thursday night after missing 22 games. McCabe played his first game since Dec. 15, when he broke his left hand in a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. McCabe had an early first period shot on goal, his only of the game, in just over 23 minutes of ice time.
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| Maple Leafs' Tomas Plekanec scored his 20th goal of the season tying a career high in Thursday's 4-2 win over Montreal. Plekanec's Thursday evening point gives him nine total in the last six games. |
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| Toronto defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo slammed into the boards Thursday night when he whiffed on a check intended for Canadiens captain Saku Koivu. Colaiacovo lay on the ice behind the Maple Leafs' net and was attended by trainer Rudy Cantu, who continued to work on the defenseman's neck as he sat on the bench. Colaiacovo didn't return to the game and is considered day-to-day for this weekend's action. |
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| Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens | Friday 2/8, 4:11 AM CT |
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| Carey Price, who was recalled from Hamilton on Monday, registered 24 saves in his first start for Montreal since he was sent to the minors to build his confidence. Cristobal Huet, who had started every game in Price's absence, ended a string of 13 consecutive starts in which he recorded a record of 9-3-1 over that stretch. |
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| Alexei Kovalev pulled Montreal within one goal midway through the third period with a brilliant short-handed goal. Kovalev continues his stellar February play scoring at least one point in each of the teams four games this month. |
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| Vesa Toskala stopped 34 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs registered a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. Blame a groin injury for the goalies inconsistent play this season. Toskala is a No. 2 fantasy option in deep fantasy formats, at best. |
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| Canadiens right winger Michael Ryder continues to be ignored when the starting lineup is written before the puck drops on game night. Ryder was held out of the lineup for a third straight game. Ryder, who has been a healthy scratch eight times this season, has eight goals and 10 assists in 47 games. The winger has registered at least 30 goals each of the past two seasons and slapped 25 into the back of the net in the 2003-04 campaign, when he a member of the All-Rookie team. |
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| Canadiens right winger Michael Ryder continues to be ignored when the starting lineup is compiled. Ryder was held out of the lineup for a third straight game. Ryder, who has been a healthy scratch eight times this season, has eight goals and 10 assists in 47 games. The winger has registered at least 30 goals each of the past two seasons and slapped 25 into the back of the net in the 2003-04 campaign, when he a member of the All-Rookie team. |
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| Canadiens defenseman Roman Hamrlik missed his second straight game to a viral infection. The team lists Hamrlik as day-to-day. |
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| Thrashers right winger Pascal Dupuis scored in the second period to give the Thrashers a 1-0 lead on Thursday. Dupuis registered Atlanta's only goal on a night that Roberto Luongo stopped a great shot from Tobias Enstrom and 27 others from by Atlanta player personnel. Dupuis ended a streak of eight games without a point. The winger has nine goals on the season making him irrelevant in most fantasy formats. |
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| Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo allowed but one goal on 28 shots helping Vancouver to a 2-1 win at Atlanta on Thursday. It was Luongo's first win in four games and just second in five games. He now has 23 wins in 45 starts this season. Luongo has been as consistent as gasoline prices this year but his upside prevents fantasy owners from benching the talented goalie. |
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| Martin Erat, RW, Nashville Predators | Friday 2/8, 3:20 AM CT |
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| Nashville forward Martin Erat left Thursday's loss to Tampa Bay in the second period with an upper-body injury. Erat's injury was reported as a 'twisted back' and is not believed to be serious. |
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| Dan Ellis, G, Nashville Predators | Friday 2/8, 3:15 AM CT |
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| Preds netminder Dan Ellis did his part in Nashville's bid for victory in Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. However, Brad Richards fired a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle allowing Vaclav Prospal to slap a rebound between the goaltender's pads for his 23rd goal of the season. The loss gives the Nashville backup a 12-6-1 record for the season. |
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| Lightning winger Martin St. Louis didn't score in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Thrashers but recorded an assist. After Wednesday's impressive one goal and two assist performance, St. Louis now has 21 points in his last 15 games. The right winger is on pace to equal or exceed his career high of 102 points of last season. |
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| Vaclav Prospal scored in overtime offering Tampa Bay a 2-1 win over Nashville on Thursday night. Prospal has recorded nine more goals than he managed all of last season and is only two behind his career high. His fantasy value rests as a No. 3 forward in traditional formats. |
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| Canucks defenseman Aaron Miller missed his second straight game with a foot injury. The injury to Miller isn't considered serious and the training staff is calling him day-to-day. |
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| Thrashers defenseman Niclas Havelid was a scratch from Thursday night's 2-1 loss to Vancouver due flu symptoms. Havelid is considered day-to-day. |
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