Note to COOLCUBED – my emails to you keep bouncing back. Send me an email from another account. 

Jaroslav Spacek's shoulder injury will keep him out of the lineup for at least the next two games. It is a shoulder sprain.

Erik Johnson was allowed back in practice. I say 'allowed' because it was management's decision to sit him in the first place – he wanted to play and felt that he could play on a foot that had a hairline fracture. Management did not want to take any chances though. While he could get back into the game…I'm thinking they will sit him out one more.

Sami Salo was back in practice and should return to the lineup within a week.

Mike York was a healthy scratch for Phoenix last night. Back to the tricks of last year it looks like for York. 

Antoine Vermette missed the last three days of practice with back spasms, but felt that he was ready to suit up for the game. However, the Sens forward left last night's contest early in the first period. He is doubtful to play this weekend.

Nick Foligno scored his first career NHL goal last night and celebrated by doing the two-legged jump – just like his father Mike did. I love it!

Ray Emery dressed for the contest, but was the backup. 

Tomas Vokoun's ankle is mildly sprained, so Craig Anderson got the start in Toronto and David Shantz was recalled to back him up. As Notch pointed out in the forum – if you consider Martin Gerber a backup for Ottawa – Toronto has faced the backup goaltender six out of eight games this season. Yet they're hard-pressed to get above that .500 mark… Vokoun is day to day.

Nick Bergfors has recovered from his shoulder injury and was sent down to Lowell.

Peter Mueller scored the first goal of his NHL career. He played 13:25 and got in some PP time, but was a minus-2 so the night wasn't all perfect for him.

The Blues are relying on Manny Legace so thoroughly that Hannu Toivonen had to be sent to the AHL to get in a quick game. He'll be called right back up again though.

Mason Raymond has been recalled by the Canucks. He will not likely be an immediate factor though.

Kris Newbury was assigned to the Marlies yesterday as Alexei Ponikarovsky returned to the lineup and picked up an assist.

Marcel Hossa missed last night's contest with a groin injury.

The Thrashers finally won a game last night, but Brett Sterling did not receive the boost in ice time that I expected. He played just 10:01. Haydar played less than that… Bryan Little played just over 14 minutes and scored a goal, so he's looking okay under the new coach. I would probably bench Sterling, as it looks as if they will bring him along slowly.

Marc-Andre Bergeron was a healthy scratch again last night. Given the fact that Chris Campoli had a four-point night (!) and Bryan Berard had a three-point night…I don't see Bergeron getting back into the lineup very easily. Ted Nolan loved the guy in March… but he can't get any love in October. Oh, the loyalties of professional sports. I wonder if Bergeron can salvage what looked like a promising season and post even 40 points this year.

Tomas Fleischmann got a sniff of the PP last night, played 13:44 and scored his first goal of the season.

Josef Vasicek played under 10 minutes last night as he plays himself into the bad books of Ted Nolan.

Dallas had better hope that Mike Smith and Marty Turco get back to full health soon. Tobias Stephan was injured in an AHL game last night. The injury is unknown, but he will have an MRI today, which sounds serious enough to me.

Jose Theodore will get the start tonight.

Milan Hejduk has still not been to practice yet as he fights back spasms. He will likely not be in the lineup this evening.

Rick Nash is still missing practice with a groin injury, but will be in the lineup for the game tonight. Pascal Leclaire will get the start.

Patrick Lalime will get the start for Chicago tomorrow.

Ladislav Nagy was a healthy scratch again for the Kings.

JS Aubin allowed four goals on 18 shots and got the hook after the second.  Labarbera played well in relief, stopping all 11 shots, but the Kings lost 4-3. Kopitar picked up three points.

Detroit's Brian Rafalski took a hit from Kyle McLaren and left last night's game in the third period. He had three assists at the time. The Wings were not saying what his injury is.

The line on Daymond Langkow last night: three points, plus-1 and seven PIM's. Gold!

After going pointless in his first four games, Paul Martin has four points in his last three. Not coincidentally Andy Green and Karel Rachunek are pointless in his last four…so it seems that the Devils are shifting their PP responsibility more towards Martin.

Back to back shutouts for Marty Biron – get him while he's hot!

Edmonton rearguard Joni Pitkanen is pointless in his last four games and is a minus-5 in that span.

Nik Antropov has had four straight games with a goal and an assist.

Joffrey Lupul has seven points in his last five games and is a plus-5 on the season. It looks like he has bounced back from an off-year and has become fantasy worthy once more. With this kind of start, he could finish anywhere from 55 points to 80 points – it's tough to tell when (or if) he'll hit a wall.

Georges Laraque missed practice again and is doubtful to play this weekend. He has a groin injury.

Martin Erat didn't practice Thursday because of a groin strain, but is expected to play in Saturday's game.

Carey Price stopped 29 of 33 last night and is looking like the real deal with every game he plays.