| Joe Sakic, C, Colorado Avalanche | Monday 2/18, 10:19 PM CT |
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| Joe Sakic, and Paul Stastny, will accompany the team on its 5-game road trip that starts on Wednesday. Stastny is trying to overcome a groin injury, Sakic a hernia operation, and the fact that they will both be with the team would seem to signal that they are getting very close to finding themselves back in the lineup. |
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| Brian Rafalski was scratched from his third straight game on Monday night due to a sore groin. The team doesn't want to rush Rafalski back, but with Nicklas Lidstrom likely out of action for a while, they will need Rafalski's offense back in the lineup. |
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| Jose Theodore may have allowed four goals on Monday night but he was still awarded the games third start as he played brilliantly despite the onslaught by the Wings (Theodore saved 36 of 40 shots on the night). Jose appears to have wrestled the goalie spot from Peter Budaj as he has gone 8-8-1 in his last 17 starts with a GAA of 2.17. |
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| Pavel Datsyuk dished out three helpers on Monday night to earn the second star in the Wings victory over the Avalanche. Pavel now has 51 assists in 62 games on the year. This marks the third straight season he has had at least 50 assists as he has certainly vaulted himself into the upper echelon of NHL point scorers. |
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| Henrik Zetterberg broke a 5-game goalless streak by scoring twice on Monday night in the Wings 4-0 victory over the Avalanche. Zetterberg is now up to 35 goals on the year, just four off his career best total of 39 set two years ago. There are few weapons as potent on the offensive end of the ice as Zetterberg who has 73 points in just 55 games this season. |
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| Chris Osgood was 0-4 with a brutal 5.73 GAA in his last four games, but he turned that all around on Monday as he stopped all 18 shots he faced to earn his fourth shutout of the year. Osgood needed this as Jimmy Howard was starting to push him for playing time with Dominik Hasek still on the sidelines. Osgood improved to 23-7-2 on the year. |
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| Steve Staios avoided a suspension on Monday when the league ruled in his favor according to a report on TSN. Staois had slashed Alexandre Burrows on Saturday, and though he avoided suspension, he did have to pay an undisclosed fine. Staois has 82 PIM which are the only contribution he makes to any fantasy squad, so obviously his value is limited. |
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| Nicklas Lidstrom was forced from the Wings/Avalanche game on Monday with a knee injury, and he is not expected to return according to the AP. Lidstrom also appeared to hit his head hard into the boards, so there is also the possibility of a concussion as well. The severity of the injury is not known, but he was injured on a solid check from Ian Laperriere who hit him up against the boards. With all the talent in Detroit there is no disputing who the most valuable Wing is. Until we know more we don't want to speculate, but really, if Lidstrom is out, there is no way that you could be able to replace his production anyway, so keep your fingers crossed. |
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| According to a report on the AP, the Flyers have recalled Claude Giroux and Stefan Ruzicka and they will both be available to play on Tuesday. "Giroux was really an impressive player in training camp and he had a great series against the Russians at the end of the summer," Flyers coach John Stevens said. Giroux played 40 games in the AHL this season and recorded 14 goals, 21 assists and 79 PIM. He also scored eight goals on the power-play and hopes to add some life to a Flyers team that is really struggling with seven straight loses. |
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| Marc-Andre Fleury is scheduled to make his third start in the minors on Monday night, but with the Penguins looking at four games in six days, it appears that Fleury will soon be back with the big club and in net according to NHL.com. However, that doesn't mean he will reclaim his starting role from Ty Conklin. "Nothing has changed for us," coach Michel Therrien said. "Performance dictates ice time and that's not going to change." Conklin has been terrific since replacing Fleury, and it sounds like if he keeps playing the way he has the past two months that he will still be in the mix to be the team's number one option. |
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| Sidney Crosby had his best practice since injuring his ankle as he skated at full speed on Monday according to a report on NHL.com. "I'm probably more comfortable on the ice because I've been out there a little bit longer now, but other than that there hasn't been a huge improvement at this point," said Crosby. The team has still not announced a firm date for his return, it certainly won't happen on Tuesday, but it appears that Crosby is well on schedule to return within the the next 10 or so days as originally estimated. |
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| Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens | Monday 2/18, 5:13 PM CT |
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| Carey Price was named the NHL's third star of the week ending February 17th after going 3-0-0 with a 1.32 GAA and .963 SV%. Price had a shutout on the week while stopping 103 of 107 shots. With Cristobal Huet struggling somewhat in net, there is a real chance that the Habs will ride the hot hand of the rookie Price, which gives his short-term value a nice boost. |
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| Ruslan Fedotenko was named the NHL's second star of the week ending February 17th after scoring five points in three games. Ruslan scored four goals with two of them going for game-winners. Fedotenko continues to be a solid winger who is good for 30-40 points each year, but nothing more. Don't think that this award marks him as someone to target the rest of the way as he has only had one 20-goal season in his career (2005-06). |
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| Manny Legace was named the NHL's first star of the week ending February 17th after going 3-0-1 with a 1.49 GAA and .954 SV%. Legace continues to be a strong second level goalie with a 2.26 GAA and 22 wins over the course of the season for the Blues. |
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| Rob Blake, D, San Jose Sharks | Monday 2/18, 4:53 PM CT |
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| Rob Blake, out with an injured ankle, has no intention of waiving his no trade clause as he wants to remain a King until he retires according to a report on TSN. "My goals have been, two years ago, to sign here, to finish here. And to do something here, and that hasn't changed." Blake still owns a booming shot and could have been a huge pickup for a playoff contender down the stretch, but he will remain in LA. Once he returns to the ice expect solid point and PIM totals though his plus/minus (-13) will likely still continue to lag behind his other production. |
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| Tomas Kaberle will remain a Maple Leaf as he is apparently unwilling to waive his no-trade clause according to TSN. ''Tomas Kaberle is not going anywhere,'' agent Rick Curran said. ''He signed a contract to be a Toronto Maple Leaf and while he's disappointed with the way things have turned out this season in Toronto, he has no intention of leaving. He's fully committed to the Maple Leafs." Kaberle has 32 points this season, 20 of them on the power-play, and will continue to be a valuable offensive defensemen regardless of which crest he wears on his jersey. |
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| Evgeni Nabokov needed stitches to his nose after a puck broke the facemask on his helmet. After going to the locker room in the second period, Nabby returned in the third period and allowed all three Isles goals. Perhaps the Sharks should have just stuck with Tom Greiss who made just his second appearance of his career. Nabokov looked shaky in the third, though the Sharks have a day off on Tuesday before resuming their 8-game road trip on Wednesday. |
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| Joe Thornton scored a goal, his 17th of the season, in the Sharks 3-2 loss to the Isles. Thornton is once again at the top of NHL circles in assists with 51, and with 68 points in 59 games, he is well on his way to yet another point-per-game season for the Sharks. |
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| Doug Murray, in just his second game back on the ice after a hip injury, was given a major penalty for boarding on Blake Comeau which resulted in his ejection. The league will review the tapes before decided on what punishment is needed. Murray has been a solid plus/minus skater (+17), and with 74 PIM he has some value in some circles though only seven assists on the year speaks to his limited offensive game. |
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| Freddy Meyer scored his first goal in 73 games, and it turned out to be the game-winner in the Isles come from behind 3rd period victory over the Sharks 3-2. The Isles scored all three goals in the third period. Meyer is certainly not worthy of being on anyone's fantasy squad, today's goal not withstanding. |
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| Dainius Zubrus recorded two helpers in Monday afternoon's win over the Hurricanes. Zubrus now has 20 assists on the season and a total of 29 points. |
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| Erik Cole, W, Edmonton Oilers | Monday 2/18, 3:46 PM CT |
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| Erik Cole was scratched from the Monday afternoon game against the Devils to the flu. Three of the Hurricanes top scorers were out on Monday afternoon. Cole, Captain Rod Brind'Amour with a knee injury and Ray Whitney with a groin pull. |
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| Ray Whitney, W, Carolina Hurricanes | Monday 2/18, 3:42 PM CT |
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| Ray Whitney was scratched from Monday afternoon's contest against the Devils with a groin injury. Whitney had a two game scoring streak on the line before being inactive Monday. |
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| Travis Zajac had a goal and an assist in an NHL Monday afternoon affair, leading New Jersey Devils past the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. The win gives the Devils a share of the Eastern Conference lead. Zajac now has 31 points on the season. |
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| Patrick Eaves, according to the NewsObserver.com has been ruled out for Monday game with a shoulder injury. Since being traded, Eaves has yet to make his Carolina debut. |
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| Rod Brind' Amour was placed on the injured reserve Monday, according Sportnet.ca. Captain Brind'Amour tore a ligament in his left knee Thursday and could miss the rest of the season. |
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| Steve Downie, who suffered a concussion on Sunday against the Canadiens, is listed as day-to-day, according to Philly.com. Fantasy owners should reserve him until he's cleared to play. |
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| Joffrey Lupul, according to Philly.com, will miss the next two-to-three weeks to a high ankle sprain.
This injury could sideline Lupul for the remainder of the season. Owners should reserve Lupul and plan for his absence moving forward. |
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| Simon Gagne, W, Philadelphia Flyers | Monday 2/18, 3:10 PM CT |
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| Simon Gagne is scheduled to see a specialist in Denver on Wednesday to find out if he can play again this season, according to Philly.com. Gagne suffered his third concussion last Sunday in Pittsburgh and will not be cleared to play for at least a week, and as mentioned in the report, could miss the remainder of the season. |
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| Derian Hatcher will miss a minimum of three weeks according to Philly.com. Hatcher is suffering from a sore right knee.
Hatcher had surgery earlier in the season to clean out bits of torn ligament and relieve fluid and just hasn't recovered fully. |
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| Peter Forsberg, according to TSN.ca, is not coming back to the NHL this season.
Or at least it's highly unlikely.
"The prospect of Peter having enough confidence in the foot-skate issue to commit to being able to play in the NHL this season isn't where it needs to be at this moment," Forsberg's agent told TSN. "As a result, teams are being told it is unlikely he will be able to commit to return to the NHL this season."
The message has been sent. Don't expect to see the center playing in the NHL, at least not this season. |
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| Patrick Marleau, who has missed the team's last three games, was placed on injured reserve Monday, according to TSN.ca. Marleau has been suffering from a groin injury. The 28-year-old center has 10 goals and 18 assists in 55 games this season. |
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| Manny Legace was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday after recording a 3-0-1 record the last seven days according to TSN.ca.
Legace recorded a 1.49 goals-against average and .954 save percentage last week.
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| Taylor Pyatt was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Oilers with an apparent shoulder injury, according to TSN.ca. He did not return to the game and is considered day-to-day. |
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| Ray Emery, G, Ottawa Senators | Monday 2/18, 12:06 PM CT |
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| Ray Emery will start tomorrow breaking John Paddock's rule of 'win and you're in', according to TSN.ca. Emery was the loser Saturday vs New Jersey which makes this move surprising. Paddock told TSN neither goalie was happy with the arrangement and he challenged them to just "go out and stop the puck." Ottawa remains winless since trading for Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore a week ago. |
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| The Sun Sentinel reports that Stephen Weiss returned to South Florida on Sunday to undergo an MRI on the hand, the results of which weren't immediately known. The team considers Weiss day-to-day but the early indications suggest Weiss could be out for an extended period of time.
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| Mathieu Roy, D, Edmonton Oilers | Monday 2/18, 10:12 AM CT |
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| Mathieu Roy, who in his first NHL game since Nov. 2, was rammed into the boards by Matt Cooke of the Vancouver Canucks, according to the Edmonton Journal. The result, Roy is back on the trainer's table. "I have some chest pain, my sternum is a little stretched out, but I just couldn't believe it," Roy said Sunday.
Roy has suffered a facial fracture, concussion, sustained a neck/shoulder injury and all of this after spending the last two months with the farm team in Springfield; he was put in the Oilers lineup after Joni Pitkanen was scratched with a hip flexor. Roy was to undergo some tests on Monday and his availability will be determined by Tuesday. |
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| Alex Burrows has caught fire as of late, notes the The Providence. Burrows appears fresh and fast on the ice -- scoring, causing commotions and making plays. His empty-netter on Saturday, which he paid for with a vicious slash from Steve Staios, was his third goal in four games after scoring just once in his previous 26. |
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| The Stars remain without two defensemen, Sergei Zubov (groin, foot) and Philippe Boucher (shoulder). Both are back skating with the team but there is no timetable for their return. |
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| The Sharks placed defenseman Alexei Semenov on injured reserve Sunday with a back injury, notes the Contra Costa Times. The team activated defenseman Douglas Murray to fill Semenov's roster spot. Murray had missed the last five games with a groin injury. |
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