phil/tor
In an era where teams disclose only that their injured players have an "upper" or "lower" body injury, the Flyers came clean on defenceman Kim Johnsson, who was brilliant in their opening-round victory over the Devils (third on the team in scoring with six points in five games). Johnsson suffered a non-displaced hairline fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand in the last game of the Devils' series. As long as the injury doesn't become displaced, he could play as early as Thursday. If he doesn't, then the Flyers will shift forward Sami Kapanen back to defence. Of that possibility, Hitchcock says: "If we have to play a game or two like that, there won't be any problem at all." Another option on defence is Dennis Seidenberg, who has missed the past four months and will get some rehab time with the minor-league Phantoms. As for the Leafs, captain Mats Sundin (lower body) and right winger Owen Nolan (lower body) remain out.
mont/tb
The Lightning will be without defenceman Jassen Cullimore, likely for the entire round, because of an injured right wrist. Cullimore was lost in the third game of the Islanders' series when he was checked into the boards by Roman Hamrlik. Nolan Pratt took his place in the line-up. Cory Stillman, an 80-point regular-season scorer, missed the deciding game of the New York series with a hip problem, but he skated 75 minutes Tuesday and is expected to play the opener.
calg/det
Calgary is down to its seventh and eighth defencemen, known colloquially as The 'Dores (Mike Commodore and Steve Montador), after losing Denis Gauthier to a suspected knee injury and Toni Lydman to a suspected concussion in the opening round. They join three important regulars, Dean McAmmond, Steve Reinprecht and Chris Simon, on the shelf. McAmmond and Reinprecht are unlikely to play again in these playoffs with back and shoulder problems respectively. Gauthier is out indefinitely. Simon, out with a knee problem, and Lydman, are day-to-day. Thomas and Brendan Shanahan (undisclosed) will play, likely Thursday, but if not, sometime early in the series.
col/sj
The Sharks played all but one game of their first-round victory over St. Louis without second-line centre Alyn McCauley, who injured his shoulder in the opener of the series and is close to returning. Scott Thornton is OK to go.
In an era where teams disclose only that their injured players have an "upper" or "lower" body injury, the Flyers came clean on defenceman Kim Johnsson, who was brilliant in their opening-round victory over the Devils (third on the team in scoring with six points in five games). Johnsson suffered a non-displaced hairline fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand in the last game of the Devils' series. As long as the injury doesn't become displaced, he could play as early as Thursday. If he doesn't, then the Flyers will shift forward Sami Kapanen back to defence. Of that possibility, Hitchcock says: "If we have to play a game or two like that, there won't be any problem at all." Another option on defence is Dennis Seidenberg, who has missed the past four months and will get some rehab time with the minor-league Phantoms. As for the Leafs, captain Mats Sundin (lower body) and right winger Owen Nolan (lower body) remain out.
mont/tb
The Lightning will be without defenceman Jassen Cullimore, likely for the entire round, because of an injured right wrist. Cullimore was lost in the third game of the Islanders' series when he was checked into the boards by Roman Hamrlik. Nolan Pratt took his place in the line-up. Cory Stillman, an 80-point regular-season scorer, missed the deciding game of the New York series with a hip problem, but he skated 75 minutes Tuesday and is expected to play the opener.
calg/det
Calgary is down to its seventh and eighth defencemen, known colloquially as The 'Dores (Mike Commodore and Steve Montador), after losing Denis Gauthier to a suspected knee injury and Toni Lydman to a suspected concussion in the opening round. They join three important regulars, Dean McAmmond, Steve Reinprecht and Chris Simon, on the shelf. McAmmond and Reinprecht are unlikely to play again in these playoffs with back and shoulder problems respectively. Gauthier is out indefinitely. Simon, out with a knee problem, and Lydman, are day-to-day. Thomas and Brendan Shanahan (undisclosed) will play, likely Thursday, but if not, sometime early in the series.
col/sj
The Sharks played all but one game of their first-round victory over St. Louis without second-line centre Alyn McCauley, who injured his shoulder in the opener of the series and is close to returning. Scott Thornton is OK to go.
