Friday, March 21, 2003
Corey Schwab, New Jersey Devils - Schwab will be the starter for Friday's game against the Penguins, reports the Newark Star-Ledger.
Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators - Emery will be the starter for Friday's game against the Thrashers, reports the official Senators website.
Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild - Fernandez will be the starter for Friday's game against the Stars, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Steve Shields, Boston Bruins - Shields is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Sharks, reports the Boston Globe. It was pretty well documented that former Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek was not a big fan of Shields, hence the reason he avoided using him in games unless absolutely necessary. Now that Ftorek is gone, Shields will probably get most or all of the starts in Jeff Hackett's absence.
Johan Hedberg, Pittsburgh Penguins - Hedberg is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Devils, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Vesa Toskala, San Jose Sharks - Toskala is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Bruins. Miikka Kiprusoff is hurt and won't dress, while Evgeni Nabokov practiced and has recovered from a chest injury. Nabokov is expected to start on Saturday but if by chance he plays Friday, Toskala would then play Saturday. Another way of looking at it: the Sharks will play all three of their goalies in the three consecutive games Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Pasi Nurminen, Atlanta Thrashers - Nurminen is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Senators.
Ron Tugnutt, Dallas Stars - Tugnutt is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Wild.
Garth Snow, New York Islanders - Snow received a warning from the league for his use of "illegal" equipment, including his shoulder, chest and leg pads. It is believed that Rangers coach and GM Glen Sather, who has long argued that Snow "cheats", filed an official complaint and proved his point through the use of pictures and videos. It will be interesting to see what happens, if anything, when the teams meet again one last time in a couple of weeks.
Sean Burke, Phoenix Coyotes - Burke left Thursday's game against the Oilers with a groin injury and was not able to stay on the bench to backup Brian Boucher. He will be re-evaluated on Friday but the Arizona Republic reports that the injury doesn't look good which probably means that the injury prone Burke will miss at least a few games. We will update his status either tomorrow or Sunday.
Miikka Kiprusoff, San Jose Sharks - Kiprusoff left Thursday's game against the Avalanche in the third period with a sprained right knee. He won't start in either of the remaining two games the Sharks have this week as Evgeni Nabokov is ready to return, reports the San Jose Mercury.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault's season is dangerously close to be being over as the Hawks have announced that the all-star goalie is suffering from post-concussion syndrom stemming from an incident back on March 9. Thibault will be re-evaluated in about one week and if he passes all neurological tests at that time, he could begin skating soon thereafter with the possibility of returning for the final few days of the season. However, with the Hawks out of the playoff race, we doubt Thibault will play again until next season.
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco went through the most extensive workout he has put his sprained ankle through and came out of it fine and dandy. The Stars are actually stating that Turco could return as early as Tuesday's game against the Canucks, but definitely before March 31. Get ready to activate Turco if you own him as we doubt it will take him very long to get back to his pre-injury form.
Kevin Weekes, Carolina Hurricanes - Weekes has decided to postpone surgery on his right hand until after the season concludes. With backup Patrick DesRochers out indefinitely with a broken arm, the Hurricanes would have had trouble finding two healthy goalies. It remains to be seen how often Weekes will start, but it is expected that Arturs Irbe will get the nod on Saturday in Montreal.
Byron Dafoe, Atlanta Thrashers - Dafoe is back on the skating and practicing and is targetting a return for the last week of the season. As you may remember, tests revealed that he would not need surgery for his sports hernia, opening up the possibility that his season may not be over.
player info
Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues - Pronger is expected to return to the Blues lineup either next Thursday or Saturday, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. If he is able to return at this time, it will allow Pronger to play the final week of the regular season thus giving him enough games to get into shape for the playoffs. He has missed the entire year after undergoing surgery to both his wrist and knee.
Alexei Zhamnov, Chicago Blackhawks - Zhamnov, who has missed the past six games with a dislocated finger (and some personal problems to boot) is scheduled to return to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Avalanche.
Pierre Turgeon, Dallas Stars - Turgeon, who has a lower leg bruise, has skated hard for the past few days but said that he still experiences pain. He was fitted with a walking boot and will be held off the ice for a few days, making it impossible that he will return this weekend as originally hoped.
Radek Bonk, Ottawa Senators - Bonk, who has a left leg injury, has been upgraded to questionable for Friday's game against the Thrashers. He will be a game-time decision to play, reports the official Senators website.
Jaromir Jagr, Washington Capitals - Jagr has been medically cleared to return from a wrist injury, but is reportedly not yet ready to return because he still feels pain in the area. He did however participate in Thursday's morning skate taking part in most drills but stated afterwards that he can't fight for the puck along the boards. We suspect Jagr will be back by early next week at the latest but check for over the weekend for another update if one exists.
Bryan Berard, Boston Bruins - Berard, who was played at forward during the Bruins last game at the order of former coach Robbie Ftorek, will play at his customary defense position for the remainder of the season coach and GM Mike O'Connell announced on Thursday.
Shawn McEachern, Atlanta Thrashers - Although McEachern was hoping to return before the year ended as he recovers from back surgery, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that he has suffered a setback and is now doubtful to play again until next season.
Corey Schwab, New Jersey Devils - Schwab will be the starter for Friday's game against the Penguins, reports the Newark Star-Ledger.
Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators - Emery will be the starter for Friday's game against the Thrashers, reports the official Senators website.
Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild - Fernandez will be the starter for Friday's game against the Stars, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Steve Shields, Boston Bruins - Shields is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Sharks, reports the Boston Globe. It was pretty well documented that former Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek was not a big fan of Shields, hence the reason he avoided using him in games unless absolutely necessary. Now that Ftorek is gone, Shields will probably get most or all of the starts in Jeff Hackett's absence.
Johan Hedberg, Pittsburgh Penguins - Hedberg is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Devils, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Vesa Toskala, San Jose Sharks - Toskala is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Bruins. Miikka Kiprusoff is hurt and won't dress, while Evgeni Nabokov practiced and has recovered from a chest injury. Nabokov is expected to start on Saturday but if by chance he plays Friday, Toskala would then play Saturday. Another way of looking at it: the Sharks will play all three of their goalies in the three consecutive games Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Pasi Nurminen, Atlanta Thrashers - Nurminen is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Senators.
Ron Tugnutt, Dallas Stars - Tugnutt is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Wild.
Garth Snow, New York Islanders - Snow received a warning from the league for his use of "illegal" equipment, including his shoulder, chest and leg pads. It is believed that Rangers coach and GM Glen Sather, who has long argued that Snow "cheats", filed an official complaint and proved his point through the use of pictures and videos. It will be interesting to see what happens, if anything, when the teams meet again one last time in a couple of weeks.
Sean Burke, Phoenix Coyotes - Burke left Thursday's game against the Oilers with a groin injury and was not able to stay on the bench to backup Brian Boucher. He will be re-evaluated on Friday but the Arizona Republic reports that the injury doesn't look good which probably means that the injury prone Burke will miss at least a few games. We will update his status either tomorrow or Sunday.
Miikka Kiprusoff, San Jose Sharks - Kiprusoff left Thursday's game against the Avalanche in the third period with a sprained right knee. He won't start in either of the remaining two games the Sharks have this week as Evgeni Nabokov is ready to return, reports the San Jose Mercury.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault's season is dangerously close to be being over as the Hawks have announced that the all-star goalie is suffering from post-concussion syndrom stemming from an incident back on March 9. Thibault will be re-evaluated in about one week and if he passes all neurological tests at that time, he could begin skating soon thereafter with the possibility of returning for the final few days of the season. However, with the Hawks out of the playoff race, we doubt Thibault will play again until next season.
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco went through the most extensive workout he has put his sprained ankle through and came out of it fine and dandy. The Stars are actually stating that Turco could return as early as Tuesday's game against the Canucks, but definitely before March 31. Get ready to activate Turco if you own him as we doubt it will take him very long to get back to his pre-injury form.
Kevin Weekes, Carolina Hurricanes - Weekes has decided to postpone surgery on his right hand until after the season concludes. With backup Patrick DesRochers out indefinitely with a broken arm, the Hurricanes would have had trouble finding two healthy goalies. It remains to be seen how often Weekes will start, but it is expected that Arturs Irbe will get the nod on Saturday in Montreal.
Byron Dafoe, Atlanta Thrashers - Dafoe is back on the skating and practicing and is targetting a return for the last week of the season. As you may remember, tests revealed that he would not need surgery for his sports hernia, opening up the possibility that his season may not be over.
player info
Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues - Pronger is expected to return to the Blues lineup either next Thursday or Saturday, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. If he is able to return at this time, it will allow Pronger to play the final week of the regular season thus giving him enough games to get into shape for the playoffs. He has missed the entire year after undergoing surgery to both his wrist and knee.
Alexei Zhamnov, Chicago Blackhawks - Zhamnov, who has missed the past six games with a dislocated finger (and some personal problems to boot) is scheduled to return to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Avalanche.
Pierre Turgeon, Dallas Stars - Turgeon, who has a lower leg bruise, has skated hard for the past few days but said that he still experiences pain. He was fitted with a walking boot and will be held off the ice for a few days, making it impossible that he will return this weekend as originally hoped.
Radek Bonk, Ottawa Senators - Bonk, who has a left leg injury, has been upgraded to questionable for Friday's game against the Thrashers. He will be a game-time decision to play, reports the official Senators website.
Jaromir Jagr, Washington Capitals - Jagr has been medically cleared to return from a wrist injury, but is reportedly not yet ready to return because he still feels pain in the area. He did however participate in Thursday's morning skate taking part in most drills but stated afterwards that he can't fight for the puck along the boards. We suspect Jagr will be back by early next week at the latest but check for over the weekend for another update if one exists.
Bryan Berard, Boston Bruins - Berard, who was played at forward during the Bruins last game at the order of former coach Robbie Ftorek, will play at his customary defense position for the remainder of the season coach and GM Mike O'Connell announced on Thursday.
Shawn McEachern, Atlanta Thrashers - Although McEachern was hoping to return before the year ended as he recovers from back surgery, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that he has suffered a setback and is now doubtful to play again until next season.
