Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Pasi Nurminen, Atlanta Thrashers - Nurminen will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dan Blackburn, New York Rangers - Blackburn will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Penguins, reports the New York Daily News.
Sebastien Caron, Pittsburgh Penguins - Caron will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Rick Kehoe's strategy is to keep playing a goalie as long as he earns at least one point for the team and last time out Caron helped the Pens tie the Hawks 1-1 which is why he gets a second straight start.
Chris Osgood, St. Louis Blues - Osgood will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Wild, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Arturs Irbe, Carolina Hurricanes - Irbe is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Thrashers, reports the Raleigh News-Observer.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Panthers.
Tommy Salo, Edmonton Oilers - Salo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Coyotes. Once the Oilers secure a playoff spot (and that could happen tonight), look for Jussi Markkanen to spell Salo and get some playing time.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Sabres.
Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild - Fernandez is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blues. Dwayne Roloson has started the past two games so you might as well consider Fernandez as a confirmed starter, barring a late injury of course.
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Oilers.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - The Canucks got good news on Tuesday as tests revealed that Cloutier's injured knee does not need surgery and that he could be back between the pipes as early as Thursday. The goalie is suffering from a strained MCL but the team is downplaying the severity of the injury saying that with rest (which Cloutier has gotten over the past few days), it will be back to as good as new.
Sebastien Charpentier, Washington Capitals - Just a heads up, but Charpentier is tenatively scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, reports the Washington Post.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - In some news that has no relevance to the NHL, Vokoun will not be playing for the Czech Republic at the World Championships later this year. Team officials informed Vokoun that Roman Turek will be the starting goalie and they weren't enthusiastic about him being the backup either but hoped he would tryout. Instead of flying half-way around the world only to be told he wouldn't be on the team, Vokoun declined. Unfortunate news for the underrated Vokoun, who is not only a better goalie than Turek but who has never represented his country before in an international competition.
Jeff Hackett, Boston Bruins - After hinting two days ago that his injured finger was more than just bruised, it was found yesterday that he does indeed have a break in the finger, meaning he could be sidelined for two weeks or more. His availability for the first round of the playoffs is in doubt and if he can't make it back by then, the Bruins will presumably give the #1 job to rookie Andrew Raycroft. Steve Shields still hasn't gotten even a hint of confidence from the Bruins coaching staff and management, which is unfortunate as we feel he has played well for the most part this year.
player info
Mark Recchi, Philadelphia Flyers - Recchi, who has missed the past two games this week due to the flu, remains back home in Philadelphia with his status for the remaining games this week questionable.
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Lemieux missed the Penguins' 70-minute practice yesterday due to back spams and is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. Unfortunately, this may situation may be common for the remainder of the year as Lemieux has nothing to play for - chances for both a playoff berth and the scoring crown have vanished.
Dick Tarnstrom, Pittsburgh Penguins - Tarnstrom, who has missed the Penguins past three games with a hip related injury, practiced yesterday and is ready to return to the Pens lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. After early season success, Tarnstrom is now a marginal starter in most fantasy leagues.
Glen Wesley, Toronto Maple Leafs - Wesley suffered a broken ankle in Tuesday's tie with the Hurricanes and will be out of action indefinitely. He will miss at least the first round of the playoffs as he will not even begin skating for three weeks. This is a pretty big blow to the Leafs, who added Wesley at the trade deadline to bolster their suspect defense.
Ken Klee, Washington Capitals - Klee missed Tuesday's game against the Canadiens with an injured right foot that he suffered on Sunday while blocking a shot. When he will return is not known at this time as initial X-rays were inconclusive.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman missed some time in Tuesday's game against the Wild after being high sticked in the facial region. He returned and played with no ill effects and even said afterwards, that he's been happy with how his knee has responded thus far. Yzerman added that he is probably able to play in back-to-back games now and that he plans on playing every single playoff game. That's good news for the Red Wings as they remain unbeaten when their captain suits up.
Petr Cajanek, St. Louis Blues - Cajanek, who suffered an injury around his eye during Sunday's game against the Stars, will not play in Tuesday's game against the Wild, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. On a somewhat related note, his injured teammates are slowly beginning to heal. Valeri Bure could return on Thursday and Chris Pronger is expected to make his long anticipated season debut either on Thursday as well or more likely Saturday against the Red Wings.
Radim Vrbata, Carolina Hurricanes - Vrbata missed Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs due to the flu. His availability for Wednesday's game against the Thrashers is unknown.
Pasi Nurminen, Atlanta Thrashers - Nurminen will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dan Blackburn, New York Rangers - Blackburn will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Penguins, reports the New York Daily News.
Sebastien Caron, Pittsburgh Penguins - Caron will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Rick Kehoe's strategy is to keep playing a goalie as long as he earns at least one point for the team and last time out Caron helped the Pens tie the Hawks 1-1 which is why he gets a second straight start.
Chris Osgood, St. Louis Blues - Osgood will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Wild, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Arturs Irbe, Carolina Hurricanes - Irbe is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Thrashers, reports the Raleigh News-Observer.
Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres - Biron is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Panthers.
Tommy Salo, Edmonton Oilers - Salo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Coyotes. Once the Oilers secure a playoff spot (and that could happen tonight), look for Jussi Markkanen to spell Salo and get some playing time.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers - Luongo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Sabres.
Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild - Fernandez is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blues. Dwayne Roloson has started the past two games so you might as well consider Fernandez as a confirmed starter, barring a late injury of course.
Brian Boucher, Phoenix Coyotes - Boucher is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Oilers.
Dan Cloutier, Vancouver Canucks - The Canucks got good news on Tuesday as tests revealed that Cloutier's injured knee does not need surgery and that he could be back between the pipes as early as Thursday. The goalie is suffering from a strained MCL but the team is downplaying the severity of the injury saying that with rest (which Cloutier has gotten over the past few days), it will be back to as good as new.
Sebastien Charpentier, Washington Capitals - Just a heads up, but Charpentier is tenatively scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, reports the Washington Post.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - In some news that has no relevance to the NHL, Vokoun will not be playing for the Czech Republic at the World Championships later this year. Team officials informed Vokoun that Roman Turek will be the starting goalie and they weren't enthusiastic about him being the backup either but hoped he would tryout. Instead of flying half-way around the world only to be told he wouldn't be on the team, Vokoun declined. Unfortunate news for the underrated Vokoun, who is not only a better goalie than Turek but who has never represented his country before in an international competition.
Jeff Hackett, Boston Bruins - After hinting two days ago that his injured finger was more than just bruised, it was found yesterday that he does indeed have a break in the finger, meaning he could be sidelined for two weeks or more. His availability for the first round of the playoffs is in doubt and if he can't make it back by then, the Bruins will presumably give the #1 job to rookie Andrew Raycroft. Steve Shields still hasn't gotten even a hint of confidence from the Bruins coaching staff and management, which is unfortunate as we feel he has played well for the most part this year.
player info
Mark Recchi, Philadelphia Flyers - Recchi, who has missed the past two games this week due to the flu, remains back home in Philadelphia with his status for the remaining games this week questionable.
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins - Lemieux missed the Penguins' 70-minute practice yesterday due to back spams and is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. Unfortunately, this may situation may be common for the remainder of the year as Lemieux has nothing to play for - chances for both a playoff berth and the scoring crown have vanished.
Dick Tarnstrom, Pittsburgh Penguins - Tarnstrom, who has missed the Penguins past three games with a hip related injury, practiced yesterday and is ready to return to the Pens lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. After early season success, Tarnstrom is now a marginal starter in most fantasy leagues.
Glen Wesley, Toronto Maple Leafs - Wesley suffered a broken ankle in Tuesday's tie with the Hurricanes and will be out of action indefinitely. He will miss at least the first round of the playoffs as he will not even begin skating for three weeks. This is a pretty big blow to the Leafs, who added Wesley at the trade deadline to bolster their suspect defense.
Ken Klee, Washington Capitals - Klee missed Tuesday's game against the Canadiens with an injured right foot that he suffered on Sunday while blocking a shot. When he will return is not known at this time as initial X-rays were inconclusive.
Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings - Yzerman missed some time in Tuesday's game against the Wild after being high sticked in the facial region. He returned and played with no ill effects and even said afterwards, that he's been happy with how his knee has responded thus far. Yzerman added that he is probably able to play in back-to-back games now and that he plans on playing every single playoff game. That's good news for the Red Wings as they remain unbeaten when their captain suits up.
Petr Cajanek, St. Louis Blues - Cajanek, who suffered an injury around his eye during Sunday's game against the Stars, will not play in Tuesday's game against the Wild, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. On a somewhat related note, his injured teammates are slowly beginning to heal. Valeri Bure could return on Thursday and Chris Pronger is expected to make his long anticipated season debut either on Thursday as well or more likely Saturday against the Red Wings.
Radim Vrbata, Carolina Hurricanes - Vrbata missed Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs due to the flu. His availability for Wednesday's game against the Thrashers is unknown.
