Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Sean Burke, Phoenix Coyotes - Burke will be the starter for Wednesday's game agianst the Hurricanes, reports the Arizona Republic.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Panthers, reports the LA Times.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Capitals.
Kevin Weekes, Carolina Hurricanes - Weekes is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Coyotes. As indicated below, Arturs Irbe is back up with Carolina now and there's a chance he could start this game.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks.
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals - Kolzig is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Sabres.
Corey Schwab, New Jersey Devils - Schwab did not dress for Tuesday's game against the Rangers due to the fact that he was with his wife, who was due to give birth. Ari Ahonen was recalled to serve as Martin Brodeur's backup.
Brent Johnson, St. Louis Blues - Johnson left Tuesday's practice after only 15 minutes with a groin strain. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday but his status for Thursday's game is in doubt. The Blues have recalled Curtis Sanford and he will actually be the starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Arturs Irbe, Carolina Hurricanes - Irbe was recalled from the minors on Monday and is expected to stay with the Hurricanes through to the end of the year, barring a trade. Coach Paul Maurice is expected to start the veteran netminder in one of the three games on the recent roadtrip, though it has not been decided when. The Raleigh News-Observer reports that he could actually start as early as Wednesday against the Coyotes.
player info
Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues - Tkachuk was suspended for four games for his vicious cross-check to the throat of Wild forward Wes Walz. Because he was considered a repeat offender, the punishment was stiffer and Tkachuk will forfeit almost half a million dollars in salary. He is eligible to return on March 7 against the Red Wings.
Doug Weight, St. Louis Blues - Weight (fractured facial bone) has begun skating and may move up to practicing sometime next week. As a result, he is not especially close to returning but we will continue to update on his status.
Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues - Pronger (wrist, knee) has begun skating as well and is actually taking somes shots with his surgically repaired wrist. However, he is still a long way away from returning and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his return should be measured in terms of weeks or even months, rather than days.
Jason Allison, Los Angeles Kings - Allison, out for over a month with hip and neck injuries, began skating on Sunday and could be back as early as this weekend. However, coach Andy Murray does not expect him to play until at least next week.
Drake Berehowsky, Phoenix Coyotes - Berehowsky will make his season debut on Wednesday against the Hurricanes. He was injured on his first shift in preseason activity after blowing out his knee, which included a complete tear of the ACL.
Kip Miller, Washington Capitals - Miller took part in non-contact drills on Tuesday before visiting a hand specialist to determine the extent of his injury. He was slashed on Saturday night, but the Capitals don't believe the injury is serious.
Theoren Fleury, Chicago Blackhawks - Fleury was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game and did not take his benching as calmly as he did the first game. Not only did he say he was "hurt" by the decision, but he was quoted as saying "when I get my chance, I'll shove it up everybody's [butt] once again. I guarantee that." Atta boy.
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche - Forsberg was slashed in the left calf during Tuesday's win over the Oilers and was seen walking in a walking boot with a limp. He told the press that he doesn't expect to practice today but anticipates being in the lineup for the Avs' next game.
Darren McCarty, Detroit Red Wings - McCarty was activated off injured reserve on Tuesday and is expected to be in the lineup when the Wings play the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Sean Avery was sent down to the minors to make room for both McCarty and Steve Yzerman.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman's knee showed no ill effects the day after he returned from knee surgery but he did not practice on Tuesday. There is also a chance that he won't play on Thursday against the Leafs, but all this is mainly as a precaution so he can be eased back into regular duty.
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers - Gagne, who has missed considerable time with a groin injury, is ready to return to the lineup on Thursday - a few days ahead of schedule. He has been practicing and skating twice a day for the past week and has said that he feels great.
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - When LeClair returns in about mid-March, he will be limited to approximately 15 minutes on one of the top two lines so he can back into the flow of the games.
Pavel Brendl, Carolina Hurricanes - Brendl will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee later today to repair a torn lateral meniscus. He may be lost for around six weeks, which in essence would end his regular season.
Hal Gill, Boston Bruins - Though his injured left ring finger still prevents him from properly gripping his stick, Gill hopes to return to the lineup on Thursday in New York.
Sean O'Donnell, Boston Bruins - O'Donnell (sprained knee) participated in Tuesday's morning skate and said that he is about 70 percent recovered. He hopes to return to the lineup sometime next week.
Rob Zamuner, Boston Bruins - Zamuner (broken foot) has skated without any problems for two days and is aiming to return Thursday.
Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins - Samsonov, out after getting wrist surgery, skated briefly for the second consecutive day as he works towards a return sometime late in the season.
Sean Burke, Phoenix Coyotes - Burke will be the starter for Wednesday's game agianst the Hurricanes, reports the Arizona Republic.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Panthers, reports the LA Times.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Capitals.
Kevin Weekes, Carolina Hurricanes - Weekes is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Coyotes. As indicated below, Arturs Irbe is back up with Carolina now and there's a chance he could start this game.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks.
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals - Kolzig is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Sabres.
Corey Schwab, New Jersey Devils - Schwab did not dress for Tuesday's game against the Rangers due to the fact that he was with his wife, who was due to give birth. Ari Ahonen was recalled to serve as Martin Brodeur's backup.
Brent Johnson, St. Louis Blues - Johnson left Tuesday's practice after only 15 minutes with a groin strain. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday but his status for Thursday's game is in doubt. The Blues have recalled Curtis Sanford and he will actually be the starter for Thursday's game against the Oilers.
Arturs Irbe, Carolina Hurricanes - Irbe was recalled from the minors on Monday and is expected to stay with the Hurricanes through to the end of the year, barring a trade. Coach Paul Maurice is expected to start the veteran netminder in one of the three games on the recent roadtrip, though it has not been decided when. The Raleigh News-Observer reports that he could actually start as early as Wednesday against the Coyotes.
player info
Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues - Tkachuk was suspended for four games for his vicious cross-check to the throat of Wild forward Wes Walz. Because he was considered a repeat offender, the punishment was stiffer and Tkachuk will forfeit almost half a million dollars in salary. He is eligible to return on March 7 against the Red Wings.
Doug Weight, St. Louis Blues - Weight (fractured facial bone) has begun skating and may move up to practicing sometime next week. As a result, he is not especially close to returning but we will continue to update on his status.
Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues - Pronger (wrist, knee) has begun skating as well and is actually taking somes shots with his surgically repaired wrist. However, he is still a long way away from returning and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his return should be measured in terms of weeks or even months, rather than days.
Jason Allison, Los Angeles Kings - Allison, out for over a month with hip and neck injuries, began skating on Sunday and could be back as early as this weekend. However, coach Andy Murray does not expect him to play until at least next week.
Drake Berehowsky, Phoenix Coyotes - Berehowsky will make his season debut on Wednesday against the Hurricanes. He was injured on his first shift in preseason activity after blowing out his knee, which included a complete tear of the ACL.
Kip Miller, Washington Capitals - Miller took part in non-contact drills on Tuesday before visiting a hand specialist to determine the extent of his injury. He was slashed on Saturday night, but the Capitals don't believe the injury is serious.
Theoren Fleury, Chicago Blackhawks - Fleury was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game and did not take his benching as calmly as he did the first game. Not only did he say he was "hurt" by the decision, but he was quoted as saying "when I get my chance, I'll shove it up everybody's [butt] once again. I guarantee that." Atta boy.
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche - Forsberg was slashed in the left calf during Tuesday's win over the Oilers and was seen walking in a walking boot with a limp. He told the press that he doesn't expect to practice today but anticipates being in the lineup for the Avs' next game.
Darren McCarty, Detroit Red Wings - McCarty was activated off injured reserve on Tuesday and is expected to be in the lineup when the Wings play the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Sean Avery was sent down to the minors to make room for both McCarty and Steve Yzerman.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman's knee showed no ill effects the day after he returned from knee surgery but he did not practice on Tuesday. There is also a chance that he won't play on Thursday against the Leafs, but all this is mainly as a precaution so he can be eased back into regular duty.
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers - Gagne, who has missed considerable time with a groin injury, is ready to return to the lineup on Thursday - a few days ahead of schedule. He has been practicing and skating twice a day for the past week and has said that he feels great.
John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers - When LeClair returns in about mid-March, he will be limited to approximately 15 minutes on one of the top two lines so he can back into the flow of the games.
Pavel Brendl, Carolina Hurricanes - Brendl will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee later today to repair a torn lateral meniscus. He may be lost for around six weeks, which in essence would end his regular season.
Hal Gill, Boston Bruins - Though his injured left ring finger still prevents him from properly gripping his stick, Gill hopes to return to the lineup on Thursday in New York.
Sean O'Donnell, Boston Bruins - O'Donnell (sprained knee) participated in Tuesday's morning skate and said that he is about 70 percent recovered. He hopes to return to the lineup sometime next week.
Rob Zamuner, Boston Bruins - Zamuner (broken foot) has skated without any problems for two days and is aiming to return Thursday.
Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins - Samsonov, out after getting wrist surgery, skated briefly for the second consecutive day as he works towards a return sometime late in the season.
