Monday Injury Analysis March 16, 2009
By Ray Calder
Goalies:
Buffalo's Ryan Miller (high ankle sprain) should remain on your bench this week . He has yet to begin on ice work either by himself or with his team .
Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin returned this week and will at least share time with Cristobal Huet .
San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov would appear to be a safe play after missing time with the flu and then a lower body injury . He played back to back Saturday and Sunday nights, so you should use him confidently in a 4 game schedule this week.
Forwards:
Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk is an injury risk going into the week as he suffered an upper body injury Thursday and missed Saturday's game at Buffalo . The TV broadcast indicated that Kovalchuk will be evaluated on Monday before that night's game against the Caps .
Chicago's Martin Havlat (thigh) played Sunday night and had a point . You can use him this week as he seemed to dodge a bullet after it appeared he reinjured himself Friday night . Also on the Hawks, Patrick Sharp is still sidelined with a knee injury .
In Dallas Jere Lehtinen remains day to day with an upper body injury . I'd leave him out this week . Fabian Brunnstrom is also out on a day to day basis with an upper body injury . Both players should be avoided this coming week .
Detroit's Marian Hossa (neck/knee) was back this past weekend and scored his 35th goal in Sunday's contest . He's a safe play this coming week .
Edmonton's Ethan Moreau (eye) was back in the lineup on Thursday after missing only 4 games with a gruesome eye injury that it was thought he might require surgery for . He's a safe play . Dustin Penner has been a healthy scratch of late, and to be honest he should not be somebody that you're relying on at this point in the season.
Florida's Nathan Horton (finger) had surgery for his injury according to the Florida Sun Sentinel and he's done until the end of March in all likelihood .
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik is a couple of weeks away from returning to the ice according to Saturday's game against Dallas . He's working to get back on the ice before the end of the regular season, but it would be hard to see him producing very much to help fantasy teams the rest of the way .
Montreal's Alexei Kovalev has been out with the flu but is likely going to be ready to play Tuesday against the Rangers according to the NHL Network .
Nashville's Jason Arnott is out on a day to day basis with an upper body injury . He did not play Saturday at Phoenix, and is a risky play this coming week .
Ottawa's Chris Neil (lacerated calf) is back in the lineup after missing better than 3 weeks .
Philadelphia's Daniel Briere (groin/sports hernia) was back Thursday and this past weekend in the back to back games against the Rangers . You can use him if you need him, but temper your expectations as he looked like a player who was hurting quite a bit in both contests against the Blueshirts .
Pittsburgh's Petr Sykora returned Sunday against the Bruins and potted a goal . He's been battling a shoulder injury, but it appears you can use him this coming week if you need him .
Toronto's Niklas Hagman remains out with a concussion . I would hold him out this coming week as he has some baseline tests to pass before the team can get him back in the lineup .
Washington's Sergei Fedorov is out with the flu . He missed Saturday night's contest against Carolina, and is questionable for Monday night against Atlanta .
Defensemen:
Anaheim's James Wisniewski is day to day with an upper body injury .
Carolina's Joni Pitkanen returned Saturday from a lower body injury . He played nearly 27 minutes so he's a safe play if you need him . He's not been overly productive so you may have better options .
Colorado's Adam Foote is day to day with a head injury according to the Denver Post . He suffered the injuury against the Wild Thursday and missed Saturday's game .
Florida's Bryan McCabe has a broken nose, but it was thought he might play Saturday . He did not and looks to be a question mark at least at the start of this coming week .
Minnesota's Brent Burns is out with concussion like symptoms . He's missed the last 5 contests and is a risk for this coming week .
Ottawa's Filip Kuba missed time with the flu last week but played better than 29 minutes Saturday and would seem to be a safe choice for your lineups this coming week .
San Jose's Rob Blake (foot) returned over the weekend and is safe to use at this point . The Sharks play 4 this coming week so you should look to activate him if you normally would .
Toronto's Tomas Kaberle (hand) is expected to return next Saturday night at the earliest according to the Toronto Sun . I'd hold him out this coming week just to be safe .