Andrei Kostitsyn will reportedly return to the lineup on Tuesday from his concussion.
 

Pascal Leclaire left last night's contest with an undisclosed injury.

With two more points last night, Ryan Kesler now has nine points in eight games. This is his fifth NHL season, and it is looking like a breakout one for him. That being said, I have my doubts that he will get as many as 65 points. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking 55 in 75 games. That's still 18 above his career high.

Corey Perry had a three-point night last night, you knew it was just a matter of time for that guy.

Ben Bishop left in the third period last night with an undisclosed injury and Marek Schwarz came on to split the shutout with him. Mason, Legace… and now Bishop. Somewhere in Europe, Hannu Toivonen is kicking himself for leaving what he thought was a team with too much depth in net.

Wayne Gretzky has stated that Mikkell Boedker will remain with the team for the rest of the season.

Tuomo Ruutu was back in the Carolina lineup and played over 18 minutes. His return knocked Samsonov's ice down to 14 minutes. Ruutu also took much of Samsonov's PP time.

Viktor Kozlov was back for Washington, but it did not impact Fleischmann, as one might have guessed. Fleischmann still played over 15 minutes and scored twice.

Antoine Vermette, Mike Fisher and Jesse Winchester are still being held off the scoresheet. I don't know about Winchester, but the other two are extremely streaky and their fantasy owners are probably very desperate to shed them. I would take advantage of that.

Milan Lucic had three goals and four points last night, giving him seven on the year. His 16 penalty minutes may be misleading even though he likes to rack them up – he had 14 in the third game. Six of his games he has had zero. I'm thinking 50 points and 60 PIMs for Lucic.

After a healthy scratch, Patric Hornqvist had his first two-point game. Rich Peverley and Vern Fiddler at to make room for Hornqvist and Smithson.

Jamie Langenbrunner missed yesterday's contest with a lower body injury. He insists that it is just a bruise and is not serious. Defenseman Sheldon Brookbank played forward in his place.

Jeff Carter played over 24 minutes last night (two more than Richards) and had two points. All the "third-liner" talk from certain bozos over the summer during trade discussions that I had seems that much sillier now.

Brett Sterling was back in the lineup again and played with Thorburn and Slater. Such a waste – just go back to scratching him Anderson if you're going to be stupid.

The Rangers scratched Dan Fritsche last night.

Radim Vrbata did not play because apparently he has a leg injury, but the team is not saying.

Matt Lombardi missed last night's game with an upper body injury.

Mr. Appendectomy Andreas Lilja was back in the Detroit lineup yesterday. How does that happen? He missed two games!

The Jackets scratched Nikita Filatov, thankfully not wasting his time by making him put on all that equipment only to sit on the bench. He would be a star on any other team right now, except maybe Detroit who wouldn't have room. And Nashville, because Trotz has the same silly notion that Hitchcock has.

Owen Nolan was back in the Wild lineup and had two points and plus-2.

Scratches for LA – Preissing, Moulson and Boyle.

Martin Gerber is day-to-day with a leg injury and the Sens recalled Brian Elliot to be the backup yesterday.

Cory Murphy did not play last night because of a shoulder injury – yes it was the same shoulder that killed his year last season. He will have an MRI.

Stephen Weiss missed last night's game with a groin injury. It doesn't seem serious.

Phoenix scratched Enver Lisin last night.

Steve Reinprecht missed the game with an undisclosed injury.