Monday Injury Analysis
By Ray Calder HockeyObserver.com
Goaltenders :
The Kings dealt Jason Labarbera to Vancouver for a late round draft pick this past week . That should serve as a signal that they are comfortable with the health of Erik Ersberg .
The Canadiens Carey Price (lower body) could be well enough to be back in uniform and serve as the backup to Jaroslav Halak in Wednesday's game against the Rangers according to the Montreal Gazette . I'd probably keep him benched this week off of that prognosis, but he's getting close to resuming his season obviously .
The Rangers Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start this evening against Pittsburgh according to Newsday . He missed Saturday night's game against Washington with the flu .
Philadelphia's Antero Niittymaki has a groin injury suffered Saturday and will be out on a day to day basis . Look for this to be more than day to day as we already know that groin injuries and goalies are bad combinations . According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the club has already recalled Scott Munroe to be Marty Biron's backup in the interim .
Vancouver's Roberto Luongo is back working out on the ice according to TSN . He should still be considered week to week .Curtis Sanford should return this week as he's back doing some on ice work and when he does return to game action it's believed he'll split time with newly acquired Jason Labarbera, and phenom Cory Schneider will return to playing regularly at the AHL level .LATE MONDAY UPDATE : Schneider was demoted to the club's AHL affiliate this afternoon which signals that Curtis Sanford is now healthy enough to split starts in the Canucks crease with Labarbera .
Forwards :
Atlanta's Bryan Little suffered a rib injury Sunday against the Lightning . He's day to day for the moment, but it appears that it's strain and not a break according to the team's official website . Expect him to miss at least a few games so replace him this week .
The Bruins Marco Sturm is going to have knee surgery and will be out indefinitely according to the Boston Herald . Sturm should be treated as though he'll miss the rest of the regular season, so those in one year leagues probably should drop him for a replacement .On what should be some better news... the team does believe it will get Patrice Bergeron (concussion) back before the regular season is complete . Still hold him out long term, but at least the team is not contemplating shutting him down after yet another significant head injury .
Buffalo's Tim Connolly is expected back either this Friday or Saturday from his rib injury according to WGR 550 in Buffalo . He may practice with the team Monday .Also on the Sabres, Maxim Afinogenov has a groin injury that will shelve him indefinitely . Reading between the lines on Lindy Ruff's comments on WGR 550, it's a safe bet we're looking at weeks and not days with this injury . He was sliding down the depth chart anyway - if you were thinking of cutting him loose in a one year league- now it would seem to be safe to do so .
Chicago's Patrick Kane has a high ankle sprain which apparently he aggravated in the Winter Classic according to the NHL Network . He's talking about "missing a few games now" so he's probably not a guy you want active this week . If the injury is what they say it is he's going to miss more than a game or two this week (history says a high ankle sprain is a 5-6 week injury).
Columbus forward Kristian Huselius has an upper body injury believed to be a concussion after taking a cross check to the face Saturday . He'll miss Tuesday's game and is day to day after that according to the Columbus Post -Dispatch .Also in Columbus, Jiri Novotny is out Tuesday and perhaps beyond with an upper body injury as well .
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik elected to have hip surgery and will miss at least the next 10 weeks . He'll have that surgery today or Tuesday and won't see game action in all likelihood until late March .
Montreal's Saku Koivu remains out with a high ankle sprain . This is often a 6 week injury so as I advised last week- don't look for him off the initial estimate which was one week .
The Predators may get a nice lineup boost later this week as Steve Sullivan (back) is set to rejoin their lineup for the first time since early 2007 . He's been doing on ice workouts for a couple of weeks and could see game action as soon as this coming Saturday . Those who have just lost someone like Gaborik or Maxim Afinogenov could do much worse than putting in a claim for the speedy Sullivan .
The Flyers Simon Gagne looks to be a go Tuesday evening after missing the last week plus with a shoulder injury . Also in Philly , according to the Philadelphia Inquirer , Daniel Briere is unlikely to play Tuesday but could go as soon as this Thursday . Briere is officially off the long term injury list and a return from his groin injury should happen the latter part of this week .Continuing with the Flyers , Claude Giroux has a possible concussion after taking an elbow from the Ducks Corey Perry (suspended 4 games) . He should be considered day to day for the moment.
The Blues Andy McDonald (broken ankle) could be back with the team as soon as this weekend according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch . I'd hold him out for another week, but it does appear that he's getting close .
Tampa Bay's Gary Roberts is still a minimum of 2-3 weeks away with his elbow injury .
Washington's Tomas Fleischmann has been sidelined with pneumonia but hopes to return on Tuesday according to the Washington Post . I'd hold him out as strength and a loss of some conditioning will be an issue at least until after he gets back in the flow of the game .
Defensemen :
Atlanta's Zach Bogosian (broken leg) is in Chicago (AHL) on a rehab assignment and should only be there 3-4 more games barring any setbacks .
Colorado's Adam Foote suffered a tricep injury Sunday according to the AP . Expect him to miss at least a couple of games .
Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom has been battling an ankle injury but was able to take part in the Winter Classic in Chicago this past Thursday . It's worth keeping an eye on the injury, but thus far he seems to be ok .
Ottawa's Anton Volchenkov suffered a shoulder injury Saturday against Toronto is day to day . He will remain with the club on it's current road trip and still may play before they return home according to the Ottawa Sun .
Pittsburgh's Sergei Gonchar resumed on ice workouts this past week . There is no timetable for his return just yet but this should be seen as a positive sign .
The Blues Carlo Colaiacovo returned to the lineup this past Saturday after sitting out with a concussion. He would seem to be safe to activate for this coming week .
Tampa Bay's Andrej Meszaros was cut for better than 60 stitches Saturday when struck by a puck . He was back in the lineup Sunday against the Thrashers so he should be fine this week if you need him .
The Leafs Mike Van Ryn is still suffering the effects of another concussion . Leave him on your bench this week and probably beyond. Also on the Leaf front in better news, the club is expected to get Luke Schenn back Tuesday evening off his knee injury according to TSN .
Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund suffered an upper body injury in Friday's game, but was fine last night against Dallas where he played over 27 minutes in the shootout loss . I would expect he's fine to use this week off of that performance .