December 17, 2007
Dobber Sports
2007-12-17
Line combo: Doug Weight with Bobby Ryan and Todd Bertuzzi. They combined for Anaheim's only goal last night. Ryan will be hot for a couple of games, just like the start of the season. This may force the Ducks to make a tough decision after his ninth game.
Brett McLean was back in action for Florida after missing 15 games with a broken hand.
Kristian Huselius has 11 points in his last three games. He is clicking on all cylinders with Iginla and Langkow.
Dustin Boyd missed yesterday's game with whiplash.
J.P. Dumont is pointless in his last seven games.
Colby Armstrong, after a hot run, is pointless in seven and a minus-5 in that span.
Dallas rookie rearguard Matt Niskanen is looking great out there with four points in his last three contests. He could be a 45-point quarterback down the road and is currently on pace for 30 this year.
Darren Haydar cleared waivers and was assigned to Chicago of the AHL.
Tuukka Rask was assigned to Providence, indicating that Tim Thomas is ready to come back now. He will get a chance to unseat the red-hot Auld for sure. Look for the two to split duties going forward, unless one truly outplays the other.
Rick Nash says that he has been suffering from pain in his hamstring, groin and lower back for the last week or two, an explanation for his big dropoff in production. He says he is feeling better every day and will be in the lineup Tuesday.
David Vyborny (hip) is back skating and could be back after the Christmas break.
Tomas Vokoun has made 90 saves in his last two games. Anderson was supposed to start yesterday but Martin made a last minute decision and it turned out to be the right one.
Ville Peltonen left last night's contest with a broken foot. He will be out for at least a month.
Mike Van Ryn's wrist has not responded to treatment and he will undergo surgery again. I don't expect him to be back this season, but that is not official.
Jason LaBarbera will probably get the start tonight for Los Angeles, returning from his rib injury.
Ladislav Nagy skated for the first time yesterday, but says his hip/leg is still bothering him. He will be out at least until Christmas.
David Koci was back in the Chicago lineup last night and it was Sergei Samsonov's turn to be scratched.
Brett Burns played wing on Saturday because Radivojevic and Foy had the flu. He was 'outstanding' up front, but Lemaire made it clear that he will return to the blue line.
The rumor is that (former?) Nashville owner Craig Leipold was in affect 'bribed' by the NHL to turn down Jim Ballsillie's offer by being promised that he can buy the Wild at a later date. The conspiracy continues…
Ottawa line combo: Kelly with Vermette and Alfredsson.
Kimmo Timonen missed Saturday's game with back stiffness and is day to day.
Cory Stillman will be out for one week with his knee injury according to Jim Rutherford last night. He will miss Tuesday's game against Toronto, Thursday's game against Florida (his 34th birthday), and the team may as well sit him out Saturday against the Lightning and rest him until Boxing Day…but that part isn't official, that's just my guess.
Andrew Ladd was recalled early from his conditioning stint to replace Stillman.
Andy McDonald did indeed play with Kariya last night and grabbed two points. He could be back to his point-per-game self now.
Phoenix center Joel Perrault has four points in two games since being recalled Friday. If you remember last year, I had him on your radar after a stellar training camp that was derailed with an injury and he never got it going again. That being said, I believe this is a blip, but he may be worth tucking away in the back of your mind for a short term pickup. See how he does next game.
The Rangers sent down Ryan Callahan and recalled Nigel Dawes. Callahan was pointless in seven games since returning from a knee injury.
Mike Fisher (oblique muscle) will miss at least the next two games. Now that's more like it. The fantasy world just wasn't the same with Fisher on that 31-game iron man streak.
Marcel Hossa and Henrik Lundqvist did not play last night because of the flu, although Lundqvist dressed as the backup.
Matt Bugg tells a great story in his latest BLOG . Well worth the read.