Thursday, February 20, 2003
Fred Brathwaite, St. Louis Blues - Brathwaite will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Canucks, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It will be his second consecutive start in place of struggling Brent Johnson.
Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche - Roy will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Penguins, reports the Denver Post. David Aebischer would then start the next day against the Islanders so adjust your lineups as such.
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Blackhawks, reports the Arizona Republic.
Johan Hedberg, Pittsburgh Penguins - Hedberg will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Avalance, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Additionally, the Denver Post is also reporting that Hedberg will start.
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals - Kolzig will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Maple Leafs, reports the Washington Post. He returned to practice on Wednesday after sitting out the previous day due to a neck strain.
Roman Turek, Calgary Flames - Turek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Predators.
Tommy Salo, Edmonton Oilers - Salo is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Red Wings.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Coyotes.
Curtis Joseph, Detroit Red Wings - Joseph is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Senators.
Martin Prusek, Ottawa Senators - Prusek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Panthers.
Jamie Storr, Los Angeles Kings - Storr is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flyers.
Roman Cechmanek, Philadelphia Flyers - Cechmanek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Kings.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flames.
Ed Belfour, Toronto Maple Leafs - Belfour is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Capitals.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - Cloutier is the probable starter for Thursday's game againstthe Blues.
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco is now able to walk around normally on his sprained ankle without a protective boot. There is no definitive timetable for his return, but he could return early next month if he suffers no setbacks.
Martin Gerber, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Ducks coach Mike Babcock announced on Wednesday that Gerber would start either Friday against the Rangers or Sunday against the Hurricanes. Just FYI, but we will hopefully have a definite answer on gameday.
Byron Dafoe, Altanta Thrashers - Dafoe's groin injury isn't as serious as first thought with MRI results showing no tear. However, Dafoe is still experiencing pain in his abdominal region and will see a hernia specialist to determine how long he will be sidelined.
player info
Adam Deadmarsh, Los Angeles Kings - Deadmarsh's season is dangerously close to ending. He has not skated since re-suffering a concussion but does some coordination-related work off the ice. He is scheduled to meet with a neurologist later this week but can't get back on the ice until all his symptoms have subsided.
Brett Hull, Detroit Red Wings - Hull has been suffering from sort of hip ailment in recent weeks and is sore to the point where the Wings list him as questionable for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings - Lidstrom, who has a sore upper left calf due to a collision with Todd Bertuzzi, did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Andreas Johansson, Nashville Predators - Andreas Johansson is likely to be out for two weeks due to a bruised hip/back. There is nothing structurally wrong with the back, but it's just too sore for him to play through.
Brendan Morrison, Vancouver Canucks - Morrison needed eight to ten stitches to close a cut near his mouth after a high stick by Detroit's Brendan Shanahan during Tuesday's match with the Red Wings. He lost some teeth as well but practiced on Wednesday with a full face mask and should not miss any time.
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche - Sakic is likely to return from a fractured foot sometime next week. He practiced with his teammates on Wednesday and said the foot is mainly pain-free but that he needs a few more practices to get his conditioning back.
Radim Vrbata, Colorado Avalanche - Vrbata took a slapshot to his right foot in practice and had to have it iced afterwards. The Avs do not believe it is anything serious, but he may be forced to miss Thursday's match against the Penguins.
Richard Matvichuk, Dallas Stars - Matvichuk, who has missed 14 games due to a cracked fibula, is very close to a return and could be back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blackhawks.
Ulf Dahlen, Dallas Stars - Dahlen missed Wednesday's game against the Flames due to the flu. He is listed as day-to-day.
Martin Straka, Pittsburgh Penguins - Straka practiced fully in Wednesday's workout and even stayed on the ice for some extra work following practice, but will not play Thursday against the Avalanche. The decision was made by the Penguins' coaching staff but Straka hopes to return on the weekend.
Jochen Hecht, Buffalo Sabres - Hecht is now suffering from a wrist injury and did not play on Wednesday against the Canadiens. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday according to coach Lindy Ruff.
Oleg Tverdovsky, New Jersey Devils - Tverdovsky skated for the first time on Wednesday in his comeback from a potential concussion. He was only on the ice for about 35 minutes, but could return next week.
Colin White, New Jersey Devils - White suffered what could be a pretty serious right knee injury during Wednesday's loss to the Senators. The defenseman went to a local hospital for X-rays and an MRI but the results weren't immediately known.
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers - Even though he has played admirably since returning from injury, Leetch's left ankle continues to be very sore and he doesn't believe as if it will improve anytime soon. Leetch has also been unhappy with the mental aspect of his game as he feels he has made too many errors in his own zone.
Pavel Bure, New York Rangers - Bure missed some action in the second period of Wednesday's game after colliding with goalie Dwayne Roloson. He got up slowly, favoring his left knee, but was able to return shortly thereafter. After the game, Bure said he felt some pain in his left knee, but that it wasn't too bad. If you own Bure, get used to this type of thing as unfortunately his knees are extremely fragile.
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers - Gagne continues to skate on his own and with teammates as he recovers from a partially torn groin. In the next few days, he hopes to step up his skating regime to include stop-and-goes but he remains out indefinitely.
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - LeClair will get his shoulder re-evaluated this weekend to determine its progress. If he is cleared for full-contact practice at that time, LeClair feels as if he would be able to return to the lineup in about a week to a week and a half, putting his return around the beginning of March.
Fred Brathwaite, St. Louis Blues - Brathwaite will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Canucks, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It will be his second consecutive start in place of struggling Brent Johnson.
Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche - Roy will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Penguins, reports the Denver Post. David Aebischer would then start the next day against the Islanders so adjust your lineups as such.
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Blackhawks, reports the Arizona Republic.
Johan Hedberg, Pittsburgh Penguins - Hedberg will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Avalance, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Additionally, the Denver Post is also reporting that Hedberg will start.
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals - Kolzig will be the starter for Thursday's game against the Maple Leafs, reports the Washington Post. He returned to practice on Wednesday after sitting out the previous day due to a neck strain.
Roman Turek, Calgary Flames - Turek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Predators.
Tommy Salo, Edmonton Oilers - Salo is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Red Wings.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Coyotes.
Curtis Joseph, Detroit Red Wings - Joseph is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Senators.
Martin Prusek, Ottawa Senators - Prusek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Panthers.
Jamie Storr, Los Angeles Kings - Storr is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flyers.
Roman Cechmanek, Philadelphia Flyers - Cechmanek is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Kings.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Flames.
Ed Belfour, Toronto Maple Leafs - Belfour is the probable starter for Thursday's game against the Capitals.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - Cloutier is the probable starter for Thursday's game againstthe Blues.
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco is now able to walk around normally on his sprained ankle without a protective boot. There is no definitive timetable for his return, but he could return early next month if he suffers no setbacks.
Martin Gerber, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Ducks coach Mike Babcock announced on Wednesday that Gerber would start either Friday against the Rangers or Sunday against the Hurricanes. Just FYI, but we will hopefully have a definite answer on gameday.
Byron Dafoe, Altanta Thrashers - Dafoe's groin injury isn't as serious as first thought with MRI results showing no tear. However, Dafoe is still experiencing pain in his abdominal region and will see a hernia specialist to determine how long he will be sidelined.
player info
Adam Deadmarsh, Los Angeles Kings - Deadmarsh's season is dangerously close to ending. He has not skated since re-suffering a concussion but does some coordination-related work off the ice. He is scheduled to meet with a neurologist later this week but can't get back on the ice until all his symptoms have subsided.
Brett Hull, Detroit Red Wings - Hull has been suffering from sort of hip ailment in recent weeks and is sore to the point where the Wings list him as questionable for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings - Lidstrom, who has a sore upper left calf due to a collision with Todd Bertuzzi, did not practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Andreas Johansson, Nashville Predators - Andreas Johansson is likely to be out for two weeks due to a bruised hip/back. There is nothing structurally wrong with the back, but it's just too sore for him to play through.
Brendan Morrison, Vancouver Canucks - Morrison needed eight to ten stitches to close a cut near his mouth after a high stick by Detroit's Brendan Shanahan during Tuesday's match with the Red Wings. He lost some teeth as well but practiced on Wednesday with a full face mask and should not miss any time.
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche - Sakic is likely to return from a fractured foot sometime next week. He practiced with his teammates on Wednesday and said the foot is mainly pain-free but that he needs a few more practices to get his conditioning back.
Radim Vrbata, Colorado Avalanche - Vrbata took a slapshot to his right foot in practice and had to have it iced afterwards. The Avs do not believe it is anything serious, but he may be forced to miss Thursday's match against the Penguins.
Richard Matvichuk, Dallas Stars - Matvichuk, who has missed 14 games due to a cracked fibula, is very close to a return and could be back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blackhawks.
Ulf Dahlen, Dallas Stars - Dahlen missed Wednesday's game against the Flames due to the flu. He is listed as day-to-day.
Martin Straka, Pittsburgh Penguins - Straka practiced fully in Wednesday's workout and even stayed on the ice for some extra work following practice, but will not play Thursday against the Avalanche. The decision was made by the Penguins' coaching staff but Straka hopes to return on the weekend.
Jochen Hecht, Buffalo Sabres - Hecht is now suffering from a wrist injury and did not play on Wednesday against the Canadiens. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday according to coach Lindy Ruff.
Oleg Tverdovsky, New Jersey Devils - Tverdovsky skated for the first time on Wednesday in his comeback from a potential concussion. He was only on the ice for about 35 minutes, but could return next week.
Colin White, New Jersey Devils - White suffered what could be a pretty serious right knee injury during Wednesday's loss to the Senators. The defenseman went to a local hospital for X-rays and an MRI but the results weren't immediately known.
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers - Even though he has played admirably since returning from injury, Leetch's left ankle continues to be very sore and he doesn't believe as if it will improve anytime soon. Leetch has also been unhappy with the mental aspect of his game as he feels he has made too many errors in his own zone.
Pavel Bure, New York Rangers - Bure missed some action in the second period of Wednesday's game after colliding with goalie Dwayne Roloson. He got up slowly, favoring his left knee, but was able to return shortly thereafter. After the game, Bure said he felt some pain in his left knee, but that it wasn't too bad. If you own Bure, get used to this type of thing as unfortunately his knees are extremely fragile.
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers - Gagne continues to skate on his own and with teammates as he recovers from a partially torn groin. In the next few days, he hopes to step up his skating regime to include stop-and-goes but he remains out indefinitely.
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - LeClair will get his shoulder re-evaluated this weekend to determine its progress. If he is cleared for full-contact practice at that time, LeClair feels as if he would be able to return to the lineup in about a week to a week and a half, putting his return around the beginning of March.
