Tuesday, January 14
goalie info
Martin Prusek, Ottawa Senators - Prusek will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Lightning, reports the official Senators' website. It will be his first start since suffering a groin injury two weeks ago.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Canucks, reports the Nashville Tennessean.
Zac Bierk, Phoenix Coyotes - Bierk will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Blues, reports the Arizona Republic.
Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild - Roloson will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Sabres.
Ed Belfour, Toronto Maple Leafs - Belfour will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Flames.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres - Miller is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Wild.
Nikolai Khabibulin, Tampa Bay Lightning - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Senators.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - Cloutier is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Predators.
Brent Johnson, St. Louis Blues - Johnson is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Coyotes.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Coach Lindy Ruff is seriously contemplating platooning Biron and rookie Ryan Miller for the forseeable future. He has been impressed with both goalies' recent play in games and in practice and feels an even split may be a healthy situation for all parties. If this comes to fruition, it could potentially kill the fantasy value of both goalies.
Steve Shields, Boston Bruins - With John Grahame now in Tampa, Shields will get the majority of starts for the Bruins over the next few days or maybe even weeks. However, he is far from being the official #1 goalie and there are threats to his position in almost every corner, namely youngster Andrew Raycroft or perhaps a goalie that will be acquired via a trade involving Kyle McLaren (the Globe reports Evgeni Nabokov as a possibility but we doubt that one). If you need Shields, by all means keep him on your roster but monitor this situation very closely as it can change at any given moment.
Byron Dafoe, Atlanta Thrashers - Dafoe strained his left groin during Monday's 7-4 romp over the Flyers and had to leave the game. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday but if there is any good news to come out of this setback, it's that this injury is new as Dafoe had previously injured his right groin. Either way, it has become quite apparent that Dafoe is a) injury prone and b) plays for a poor defensive team and thus, he should probably be avoided in most fantasy leagues.
Mike Richter, New York Rangers - Two months after suffering a concussion, Richter's condition still has not improved as he continues to experience symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. This is a very disturbing development for the veteran goalie as his career in the NHL is in serious jeopardy.
player info
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - LeClair is in the final stage of his rehab from a torn labrum muscle in his shoulder and hopes to begin practicing later this month. He is targetting a return to the lineup around the middle of February.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman practiced again on Monday and was relatively optimistic about being able to return to the Wings' lineup next month. He hopes to push the envelope so to speak over the next week or two and then engage in full contact practice before being activated to play. If Yzerman is able to return in February, he could definitely contribute a point per game over the balance of the season, meaning he would still have a decent amount of fantasy value.
Petr Cajanek, St. Louis Blues - Cajanek will miss the next four to six weeks with a broken left fibula. As a result, the Blues may compensate for his loss by shifting either Cory Stillman or Keith Tkachuk to center.
Brad May, Phoenix Coyotes - May, out for the entire season so far with torn muscles in his shoulder, will return to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blues.
Tony Amonte, Phoenix Coyotes - Amonte, who had his NHL-best iron man streak end over the weekend, will be a gametime decision to play on Tuesday against the Blues. The injury to his rib is not deemed serious and Amonte was expecting "encouraging" results from tests performed.
Owen Nolan, San Jose Sharks - Nolan missed his second consecutive game on Monday due to a groin pull. He is listed as day-to-day but hopes to play in the Sharks' next game later this week.
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Well, there was some good news earlier today when fans rejoiced that Lemieux had recovered from a groin pull and was in the lineup for Monday's game against the Bruins. However, it didn't even last a period as Mario re-aggravated the injury and was on the ice for not even four minutes. He has ruled himself out for Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes, but hopes to be back by the weekend. After this latest setback though, we think he'd rather play it safe than sorry.
Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning - Boyle was placed on injured reserve with a broken index finger, retroactive to January 4. This doesn't reflect a change in his status as all it does is allow the Lightning to replace him on the roster for the time being. Boyle is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Senators.
Karel Rachunek, Ottawa Senators - Rachunek, who has missed two games with a shoulder strain, practiced on Monday but is still listed as day-to-day. We assume his status for Tuesday's game against the Lightning will be determined after the morning skate.
Tom Poti, New York Rangers - Poti sat out Monday's game against the Leafs due to a neck strain incurred over the weekend. He is listed as day-to-day and is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday's game. If his status changes, we'll update it tomorrow.
Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo Sabres - Afinogenov has experienced no problems flying with the Sabres in the past week and has been concussion symptom-free for four days. Coach Lindy Ruff stated that he could be cleared to resume skating with the team later this week if he experiences no setbacks.
Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins - Despite being out of hospital, Thornton continues to receive treatment for his infected elbow. The Boston Globe reports that the earliest he could be back on the ice as early as Friday, but more likely will be back on the weekend or even next week. When he does return, he will wear extra padding around his elbow to protect agaisnt possible re-infection.
goalie info
Martin Prusek, Ottawa Senators - Prusek will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Lightning, reports the official Senators' website. It will be his first start since suffering a groin injury two weeks ago.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Canucks, reports the Nashville Tennessean.
Zac Bierk, Phoenix Coyotes - Bierk will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Blues, reports the Arizona Republic.
Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild - Roloson will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Sabres.
Ed Belfour, Toronto Maple Leafs - Belfour will be the starter for Tuesday's game against the Flames.
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres - Miller is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Wild.
Nikolai Khabibulin, Tampa Bay Lightning - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Senators.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - Cloutier is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Predators.
Brent Johnson, St. Louis Blues - Johnson is the probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Coyotes.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Coach Lindy Ruff is seriously contemplating platooning Biron and rookie Ryan Miller for the forseeable future. He has been impressed with both goalies' recent play in games and in practice and feels an even split may be a healthy situation for all parties. If this comes to fruition, it could potentially kill the fantasy value of both goalies.
Steve Shields, Boston Bruins - With John Grahame now in Tampa, Shields will get the majority of starts for the Bruins over the next few days or maybe even weeks. However, he is far from being the official #1 goalie and there are threats to his position in almost every corner, namely youngster Andrew Raycroft or perhaps a goalie that will be acquired via a trade involving Kyle McLaren (the Globe reports Evgeni Nabokov as a possibility but we doubt that one). If you need Shields, by all means keep him on your roster but monitor this situation very closely as it can change at any given moment.
Byron Dafoe, Atlanta Thrashers - Dafoe strained his left groin during Monday's 7-4 romp over the Flyers and had to leave the game. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday but if there is any good news to come out of this setback, it's that this injury is new as Dafoe had previously injured his right groin. Either way, it has become quite apparent that Dafoe is a) injury prone and b) plays for a poor defensive team and thus, he should probably be avoided in most fantasy leagues.
Mike Richter, New York Rangers - Two months after suffering a concussion, Richter's condition still has not improved as he continues to experience symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. This is a very disturbing development for the veteran goalie as his career in the NHL is in serious jeopardy.
player info
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - LeClair is in the final stage of his rehab from a torn labrum muscle in his shoulder and hopes to begin practicing later this month. He is targetting a return to the lineup around the middle of February.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman practiced again on Monday and was relatively optimistic about being able to return to the Wings' lineup next month. He hopes to push the envelope so to speak over the next week or two and then engage in full contact practice before being activated to play. If Yzerman is able to return in February, he could definitely contribute a point per game over the balance of the season, meaning he would still have a decent amount of fantasy value.
Petr Cajanek, St. Louis Blues - Cajanek will miss the next four to six weeks with a broken left fibula. As a result, the Blues may compensate for his loss by shifting either Cory Stillman or Keith Tkachuk to center.
Brad May, Phoenix Coyotes - May, out for the entire season so far with torn muscles in his shoulder, will return to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blues.
Tony Amonte, Phoenix Coyotes - Amonte, who had his NHL-best iron man streak end over the weekend, will be a gametime decision to play on Tuesday against the Blues. The injury to his rib is not deemed serious and Amonte was expecting "encouraging" results from tests performed.
Owen Nolan, San Jose Sharks - Nolan missed his second consecutive game on Monday due to a groin pull. He is listed as day-to-day but hopes to play in the Sharks' next game later this week.
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Well, there was some good news earlier today when fans rejoiced that Lemieux had recovered from a groin pull and was in the lineup for Monday's game against the Bruins. However, it didn't even last a period as Mario re-aggravated the injury and was on the ice for not even four minutes. He has ruled himself out for Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes, but hopes to be back by the weekend. After this latest setback though, we think he'd rather play it safe than sorry.
Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning - Boyle was placed on injured reserve with a broken index finger, retroactive to January 4. This doesn't reflect a change in his status as all it does is allow the Lightning to replace him on the roster for the time being. Boyle is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Senators.
Karel Rachunek, Ottawa Senators - Rachunek, who has missed two games with a shoulder strain, practiced on Monday but is still listed as day-to-day. We assume his status for Tuesday's game against the Lightning will be determined after the morning skate.
Tom Poti, New York Rangers - Poti sat out Monday's game against the Leafs due to a neck strain incurred over the weekend. He is listed as day-to-day and is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday's game. If his status changes, we'll update it tomorrow.
Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo Sabres - Afinogenov has experienced no problems flying with the Sabres in the past week and has been concussion symptom-free for four days. Coach Lindy Ruff stated that he could be cleared to resume skating with the team later this week if he experiences no setbacks.
Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins - Despite being out of hospital, Thornton continues to receive treatment for his infected elbow. The Boston Globe reports that the earliest he could be back on the ice as early as Friday, but more likely will be back on the weekend or even next week. When he does return, he will wear extra padding around his elbow to protect agaisnt possible re-infection.
