Monday Injury Analysis
By Ray Calder HockeyObserver.com
Goalies:
Buffalo's Ryan Miller remains out and should be on your bench for at least a couple more weeks . Sabres GM Darcy Regier suggested on deadline day on WGR 550 that Miller would be healthy enough to play again before the conclusion of the regular season .
Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin is getting closer but is not taking shots yet . He's a poor bet for this week as he's still several practices away at best .Cristobal Huet remains the best bet in the Hawks nets .
San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov is over his flu but is dealing with a lower body tweak and missed 4 games this past week . He's apparently close to a return but did not make the trip for the Minnesota game Tuesday . Look for him to return later this week .
While there has been no announcement don't look for the Lightning's Mike Smith to play again this season .
Toronto's Vesa Toskala will have hip/groin surgery and his season is over . He's expected to be fine in time for Leafs training camp in September .
Forwards:
Buffalo's Maxim Afinogenov missed Saturdays loss to Ottawa with a stiff neck suffered Friday against Phoenix . He's day to day for now .Also in Buffalo according to the Buffalo News coach Lindy Ruff suggested Monday that forward Thomas Vanek is nowhere near 100% after missing time with a jaw fracture . He'll continue to play but temper your expectations for productivity a bit as he gets his conditioning back .
Chicago's Martin Havlat left yesterdays game with an undisclosed injury and did not return . Also in Chicago newly acquired Sami Pahlsson is about a week away from returning according to the Chicago Tribune.
Columbus Fredrik Modin (knee) is out of the Jackets lineup yet again on day to day basis according to the Columbus Dispatch .Also with Columbus Mike Peca took a puck to the head this past week and while nothing is being said definitively, there is some belief that he has a concussion per Saturday nights TV broadcast against Detroit.
Dallas Jere Lehtinen missed Sundays contest with an upper body injury and is day to day according to the TV broadcast of Sundays contest against Montreal . Hold him out this week as his status is anything but certain at this point .
Detroit's Marian Hossa has a stiff knee but is expected to return this coming week after falling hard into the boards Tuesday against the Blues .He's questionable for Tuesday night but did manage to practice Monday per the Detroit Free Press .
Edmonton's Ethan Moreau remains out with a significant eye injury that to this point has not required any surgery . Leave him on your bench this week and we'll update this in a weeks time .
Montreals Alex Tanguay (shoulder) returned Friday for the first time since last December . He's a safe play now having come through a couple of games with no setbacks .
The Islanders Trent Hunter broke his ankle in Saturday's win over New Jersey . His season is over and you should locate a replacement for the last month of the regular season .
Pittsburgh's Petr Sykora missed Sunday's game with an upper body injury but it's expected he'll be ready for Tuesday's game against Florida according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.Update : He missed practice Monday so his status is a little shaky for Tuesday nights contest .
San Jose lost Mike Grier (knee) and Jeremy Roenick (shoulder) for what will likely be the balance of the regular season . Also Claude Lemieux has a jaw injury and is out indefinitely per the San Jose Mercury News .
Washington's Michael Nylander (upper body) is out on day day basis according to the Washington Post .He remains questionable to play Tuesday against Toronto. On Sunday Alex Ovechkin (heel) returned against Pittsburgh and is definitely safe to use this week .
Defensemen:
Anaheim's Bret Hedican is still out with a back injury . Leave him on your bench as he may be back late this week if there are no setbacks.
Boston's Steve Montador is day to day with the flu having missed his second straight game Sunday
Detroit's Andreas Lilja remains out with a concussion after a fight with Nashville's Shea Weber per the Detroit Free Press . Hold him out this week as the recovery is going very slowly .
Minnesota's Brent Burns (flu) is day to day . On Saturday Kurtis Foster stepped back into the Wild lineup for the first time in nearly a year (fractured fibula).
Toronto's Mike Van Ryn is finished after tearing his MCL (knee) this past week according to the Toronto Star . I'm sure Van Ryn would like to forget this season as it's been one injury after another in 2008/09.
Washington's Tom Poti (groin) returned Sunday against Pittsburgh . He's still not a great bet as groin injuries linger but at least he figures to be back on the ice this week barring any setbacks.