Phil Kessel is day to day with a LBI and the Toronto Sun wonders if we’ll see him play again this season. He can’t skate at even close to full stride and had to leave practice yesterday.

I forgot to add – you can enter three times per email address.

For my FREE playoff pool – first prize will be an Easton hockey stick (Stealth S17 signed by the group “Atreyu”). Second prize will be a hockey jersey of your choice. Third prize will be an Ultimate Fantasy Pack from DobberHockey. ENTER HERE. You can change your picks up until next Tuesday.

If the KHL’s Salavat UFA team loses today, Alexander Radulov gets eliminated from the postseason. Rads has 14 points in 13 playoff games. He was fourth in KHL scoring with 63 points, behind – Alexei Yashin?, Maxim Sushinski and Sergei Mozyakin. Marcel Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Branko Radivojevic and Sergei Zinovjev were the other notable names in the Top 10. Radulov won’t be back next season, but remains an option when his contract runs out in 2011.

Chris Kunitz is day to day with a shoulder injury, so Crosby is playing with Dupuis and Fedotenko. Malkin is playing with Guerin and the Poni, according to the Gazette.

Besides Linus Omark, the Oilers signed their 2005 fourth-round pick Chris Vande Velde. He’s a big pivot who is responsible at both ends of the ice. I’m sure he’ll be converted to the wing in the AHL next year and get a long look in 2011. His upside is second line at best.

Tonight Ilya Kovalchuk returns to Atlanta.

Ryan Kesler – 19th in league scoring. Man, I didn’t see that coming. Now we know why the Flyers signed him to an offer sheet a few years ago. A top scorer and he’s more touted for his defense and intangibles. I’m a believer now.

Patrik Berglund was seen with his arm in a sling after the game according to the Dispatch.

The Dallas News is reporting that we’ll see Matt Climie tonight, Marty Turco Thursday and Kari Lehtonen Saturday.

New York beat writer Larry Brooks is stirring the pot again. He quotes two GM sources, unnamed, who indicate that Chris Pronger is the root of locker room trouble in Philadelphia. This according to philly.com.

The Flyers still hold out hope that Jeff Carter can get into the final two games of the season. He is recovering quickly from a broken foot and we will know more tomorrow.

With Peter Mueller gone for what little remains in the season, Brandon Yip is an obvious choice for a replacement. Yip has been pointless (two games) in his return from a shoulder injury, but that is probably due to the presence of Mueller, who wasn’t around before Yip was hurt.

It’s 13 points in 13 games now for Tom Gilbert. At 27, he’s in his prime and I would cautiously say that 40 to 45 for next year is where to put my money. That being said, I won’t be picking him. Too frustrated over him this season. His upside is easily 55 points, but unless he can string together this kind of production for longer than a month, he’ll never get there.

Chad Kolarik played the big five minutes in his NHL debut last night. He replaced Rick Nash, who is dealing with an upper body injury – reportedly just back stiffness, so we may see him back soon.

Mike Green owners are the latest victims of Bruce Boudreau’s “rest the players” rotation. He had the night off last night. This strategy may work for the Caps, or it may not. But it will definitely cost some fantasy owners their league win.

Martin Havlat apparently pulled his hamstring last night. Guillaume Latendresse hurt his back. so Havlat will probably finish with 73 games, or 154 over two years, which is amazing.

Registration is now open for the DobberHockey FREE Playoff Challenge. Our good friends at pickuphockey.com have things all set up for you HERE. Go in, register, choose your team, and you can make changes up until next Tuesday. Have a look! We are still ironing out some prizes, if you work for a jersey company, or if you have another idea for a prize, please contact Jeff Angus at angus@dobberhockey.com