Tuesday Injury Analysis January 27, 2009
By Ray Calder HockeyObserver.com
Lots of injury notes for the week coming out of the All Star Break so let's get to it .....
Goaltenders:
Columbus lost Pascal Leclaire for the year to ankle surgery . Their #1 goaltender will be Calder Trophy candidate Steve Mason . The team claimed Wade Dubielewicz off waivers when the Islanders tried to get him back into their organization from the KHL (Russia). Look for Mason to start at least 3 of every 4 games the rest of the way so long as he's healthy .
The Kings Erik Ersberg is expected back at some point this week . He missed the Young Stars game at the All Star weekend with a lower body injury .
New Jersey's Martin Brodeur is back on the ice and on schedule in his recovery from a torn bicep according to Newsday . Barring anything unforseen he could be back at the end of February /early March . Look for Scott Clemmensen to continue to start in the Devils net .
The Islanders are without both Joey Macdonald (groin) and Rick Dipietro coming out of the break . Dipietro is out for the remainder of the year and Mcdonald will miss another week to ten days . The team will lean on Yann Danis for the time being as the starter .
Look for Jose Theodore to get the bulk of the starts coming out of the break as backup Brent Johnson is still working through a lower body injury .
Forwards:
Anaheim's Teemu Selanne is back on skates but probably will not play this week according to the team's official website . He is trying to return from a skate laceration to his thigh. I would suggest holding him out one more week .
Boston's Patrice Bergeron has passed his neurological tests and will return this evening from a concussion (suffered before Christmas) against the Capitals . Also the team will get Milan Lucic back tonight from a shoulder injury .Phil Kessel remains sidelined for about another 3 weeks with mono .
Buffalo's Maxim Afinogenov had a setback last week in his recovery according to WGR 550 . He is probably out another couple of weeks after this latest problem .
Chicago's Kris Versteeg is dealing with a minor finger injury suffered prior to the break against the Blues . He's questionable for Wednesday's game but the injury doesn't sound as though it's all that serious .
Columbus is likely without Fredrik Modin this evening with a shoulder injury according to the Columbus Dispatch .Also rookie Nikita Filatov (knee) is likely to miss the week but is not a long term concern .
Hold the Stars Fabian Brunnstrom out another week in roto . His high ankle sprain is improving but he's still got some discomfort according to the Dallas Morning News .
Detroit will be without Pavel Datsyuk this evening as he was suspended by the NHL for skipping the All Star game .The Wings will get Johan Franzen back this evening from a sore hip according to the Detroit Free Press.
Edmonton's Sam Gagner is out up to 2 weeks with an ankle injury according to the NHL Network .On the bright side Ales Hemsky returned from a concussion just before the break and showed himself to be in great form - he's safe to have back in your roto lineups this week .
The Panthers Rostislav Olesz is likely done for much of if not all the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery just prior to the All Star game according to the Miami Herald . Olesz has not played since early December and he finally decided to get the problem corrected now . With the club likely going to miss the playoffs, I wouldn't expect that even if he's ready late March that he'll make any meaningful contribution .
The King's Oscar Moller will make the next road trip with the club according to the LA Daily News . He is coming back from a fractured clavicle and could be back as soon as this weekend .
Montreal's Chris Higgins is expected back in the lineup this evening after missing time with a sprained shoulder according to the Montreal Gazette .Go ahead and activate him .Alex Tanguay is expected to remain sidelined until about February 20 with a separated shoulder .
The Islanders figure to get Doug Weight (lower leg) back from injury later this week . The teams official website reports that he is back in the ice practicing and a return could come as early as Thursday .Also with the Isles, Trent Hunter is also day to day with his hand injury .
The Rangers have been one of the healthiest clubs in the league this season . Petr Prucha figures to be a healthy scratch in the first game off the break Tuesday . Also the team has placed Dan Fritsche on waivers again and he'll likely report to Hartford (AHL).
The Flyers Daniel Briere underwent another surgery on his groin / stomach area last week and is focused on getting himself in position to contribute for the playoffs . Don't look for him to be of any help to your fantasy team until at least sometime in March .
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby is questionable for the Wednesday night game against the Rangers after missing the All Star game with a knee injury . He was not suspended by the league (Datsyuk, Lidstrom) because he did show up in Montreal for the weekend's festivities. I would be cautious using Crosby this week because the team likely will be careful and hold him out another game or two rather than risking a setback . They need a healthy #87 in the second half to get them in playoff position .UPDATE : Crosby practiced for the second straight day Tuesday and according to the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette suggested that he would give it a go against the Rangers .
The Blues Andy Mcdonald is getting closer to a return from his broken ankle but will not be back right away after feeling some pain still prior to the break according to the team's official website . Hold him out this week .
The Sharks Torrey Mitchell who was rehabbing a broken leg in the AHL , suffered an "unrelated injury" while there and is still some time from returning to the team . Keep him off your radar for the time being .
Defensemen:
Buffalo's Henrik Tallinder (shoulder) and Teppo Numminen (face) are both most certainly out this week and probably a couple more after being injured in the week leading up to the All Star Game .
Chicago's Duncan Keith (concussion) is questionable coming out of the break according to the Chicago Tribune . The team has a deep blueline so they may play this one conservatively . I'd leave him on your bench this week if I had other options.
Colorado's Adam Foote is close to a return from his triceps injury according to the Denver Post .
Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom is out Tuesday evening with a one game suspension for skipping the All Star game . He apparently was dealing with 2 injuries but the league came down hard on one of it's classiest players . Also the Wings will be without Brad Stuart (neck) this evening though he should be fine later in the week according to the NHL Network .
Ottawa's Anton Volchenkov is expected to be ready this evening to play after missing 8 games with a shoulder injury . If you need him you probably are safe to get him back in your lineup .
San Jose's Rob Blake has a jaw injury which might keep him out through the weekend according to the San Jose Mercury News . Only use him if you have few to no other options .
Tampa's Paul Ranger missed time before the break with an undisclosed upper body injury . He is expected back this week so if you need him I would roll with him.
Toronto's Mike Van Ryn passed his cognitive test Sunday (2nd try) and will play in the team's next game against the Wild according to the Toronto Sun .He should definitely be watched as he suffered two significant concussions in a 6 week period .
Vancouver's Sami Salo is expected back this week from his fractured rib according to NHL.com.
Washington's Kyle Alzner is probable for Tuesday evening against the Bruins . He was sent to the AHL during the NHL All Star Break, but should play this evening for Tom Poti who could return later this week from a groin injury that has lingered for two months .