friday
player info
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Lemieux missed the third period of Thursday's blowout loss to the Predators due to back spasms, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Uh-oh, so it begins. Penguins official stated after the game that his absence was merely precautionary but you don't need us to tell you that any sentence with Lemieux and back spasms is bad news.
Darcy Tucker, Toronto Maple Leafs - Tucker may have suffered a broken thumb after a tussle with Detroit's Jason Woolley on Thursday. He is set to get X-rays on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.
Eric Daze, Chicago Blackhawks - Daze's foot rash has taken a turn for the worse as he has been admitted to a Chicago hospital with an infection. The Blackhawks believe that he will stay there for at least a couple days but are unsure about when he will be able to return to the lineup. Infections seem to be popping up all over the league this year (Joe Thornton, Mikael Renberg, Darren McCarty come to mind immediately) and in almost all cases, the victimized player ends up missing at least a few games.
Jiri Fischer, Detroit Red Wings - Fischer continues to progress ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. He is now able to skate for about 30 minutes each day on his own and may be allowed to join the team for pre-game skates within the next week or so.
Brad Stuart, San Jose Sharks - Stuart missed his second consecutive game with a concussion. He tried to skate on Thursday before the game, but it didn't go very well as he became light headed. Don't expect him back until the middle of next week at the earliest.
Kenny Jonsson, New York Islanders - Kenny Jonsson fell awkwardly and injured his right knee during Thursday's tie with the Devils. He did not return and was diagnosed with a mild sprain.
Tom Poti, New York Rangers - Poti missed some action with a bruised right ankle after getting hit with the puck on Thursday, but continued to play through the pain. Post-game X-rays indicated no fracture or break which probably got a big sigh of relief from the Rangers as we all know what happened when Brian Leetch got a puck in the ankle.
goalie info
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher will be the starter for Friday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Arizona Republic.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Coyotes.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Stars.
Ron Tugnutt, Dallas Stars - Tugnutt is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Sabres.
Mike Richter, New York Rangers - Richter met his teammates in the lockerroom following Thursday's win over the Bruins and told everyone that he "turned a corner" in his battle from a concussion. Even though he is feeling significantly better, it doesn't change the fact that Richter is done for the season.
player info
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Lemieux missed the third period of Thursday's blowout loss to the Predators due to back spasms, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Uh-oh, so it begins. Penguins official stated after the game that his absence was merely precautionary but you don't need us to tell you that any sentence with Lemieux and back spasms is bad news.
Darcy Tucker, Toronto Maple Leafs - Tucker may have suffered a broken thumb after a tussle with Detroit's Jason Woolley on Thursday. He is set to get X-rays on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.
Eric Daze, Chicago Blackhawks - Daze's foot rash has taken a turn for the worse as he has been admitted to a Chicago hospital with an infection. The Blackhawks believe that he will stay there for at least a couple days but are unsure about when he will be able to return to the lineup. Infections seem to be popping up all over the league this year (Joe Thornton, Mikael Renberg, Darren McCarty come to mind immediately) and in almost all cases, the victimized player ends up missing at least a few games.
Jiri Fischer, Detroit Red Wings - Fischer continues to progress ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. He is now able to skate for about 30 minutes each day on his own and may be allowed to join the team for pre-game skates within the next week or so.
Brad Stuart, San Jose Sharks - Stuart missed his second consecutive game with a concussion. He tried to skate on Thursday before the game, but it didn't go very well as he became light headed. Don't expect him back until the middle of next week at the earliest.
Kenny Jonsson, New York Islanders - Kenny Jonsson fell awkwardly and injured his right knee during Thursday's tie with the Devils. He did not return and was diagnosed with a mild sprain.
Tom Poti, New York Rangers - Poti missed some action with a bruised right ankle after getting hit with the puck on Thursday, but continued to play through the pain. Post-game X-rays indicated no fracture or break which probably got a big sigh of relief from the Rangers as we all know what happened when Brian Leetch got a puck in the ankle.
goalie info
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher will be the starter for Friday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Arizona Republic.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Coyotes.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Stars.
Ron Tugnutt, Dallas Stars - Tugnutt is the probable starter for Friday's game against the Sabres.
Mike Richter, New York Rangers - Richter met his teammates in the lockerroom following Thursday's win over the Bruins and told everyone that he "turned a corner" in his battle from a concussion. Even though he is feeling significantly better, it doesn't change the fact that Richter is done for the season.
