The Daily Puck: Slumping Sabre

The Daily Puck
by Kevin King, RotoWire Writer

Projected Goalie Starters

Phoenix (Bryzgalov) at Boston (Rask) 10:00 AM
Florida (Vokoun) at Edmonton (Khabibulin) 8:00 PM
Los Angeles (Quick) at Calgary (Kiprusoff) 8:00 PM

Injuries for Teams Playing Sunday

Day-to-Day (Includes DL players close to returning)

Tim Thomas (G) Boston - (Hip) Thomas seems healthy, since he is the only other goalie on the Bruins roster behind starter Tuukka Rask
Byron Bitz (RW) Florida - (Groin) Bitz's groin injury is not thought to be too serious, but he'll likely miss the next week or two
Keaton Ellerby (D) Florida - (Shoulder) Ellerby was sent to Florida's AHL affiliate in Rochester, where he sat out the team's season opener on Satruday
Chris Higgins (LW) Florida - (Groin) Higgins picked up a minor groin injury towards the end of the preseason that is not thought to be very serious. He should dress for Sunday night's opener in Edmonton.
Marty Reasoner (C) Florida - (Knee) The veteran center looks likely to be activated in time for Sunday's game in Edmonton.
Gilbert Brule (C) Edmonton - (Undisclosed) Brule and the Oilers do not seem overly concerned about Brule's status for Sunday's opener against Florida.
Matt Greene (D) Los Angeles - (Shoulder) Greene is nearing a return to the ice after having shoulder surgery in July. A rehab assignment should come soon, and he could be back with L.A sooner rather than later.
Raitis Ivanans (LW) Calgary - (Head) Ivanans got the worst of a fight with Edmonton's Steve MacIntyre in the season opener and could have possibly sustained a concussion.
David Moss (LW) Calgary - (Shoulder) Moss missed the season opener on Thursday and will most likely miss Sunday's game against LA as well.

Long Term or IR

Kurt Sauer (D) Phoenix - (Post-concusion syndrome) Likely out for season after missing 81 games last year with same problem.
Marc Savard (C) Boston - (Post-concusion syndrome) Did not travel with team to Prague, not practicing on ice yet, no timetable for his return
Marco Sturm (LW) Boston - (Knee) At least three to four weeks away from even skating.
Mark Cullen (C) Florida - (Achilles) Most likely will miss entire season
Jean-Francois Jacques (LW) Edmonton - (Back) Jacques is targeting a return in late October after sustaining a back injury in a game last March.
Scott Parse (RW) Los Angeles - (Groin) The Kings had high hopes for Parse coming into the season but a nagging groin injury has the winger shelved for a few weeks.
Colten Teubert (D) Los Angeles - (Hand) Teubert has not begun hockey activities after offseason surgery. Not expected to make the Kings roster even is he was healthy.
Ales Kotalik (RW) Calgary - (Knee) Kotalik was placed on IR to start the season. If the injury does not require surgery he could return in about a month.
Daymond Langkow (C) Calgary - (Neck) Langkow's rehab from neck surgery has stalled and there is currently no timetable for his return.
Matt Stajan (C) Calgary - (Shoulder) Will miss a significant amount of time after separating his shoulder in camp.
Ryan Stone (C) Calgary - (Knee) Another injured Flame, Stone remains out indefinitely after injuring his knee in training.

Transactions

Zdeno Chara (D) Boston - Signed a seven-year contract extension with Bruins.
Brett Festerling (D) Anaheim - Recalled by Ducks to provide depth at the blue-line.
Drew MacIntyre (G) Atlanta - Recalled by Thrashers to serve as backup to Chris Mason
Brett Carson (D) Carolina - Assigned to Charlotte of the AHL
Bobby Sanguinetti (D) Carolina - Assigned to Charlotte of the AHL
Justin Pogge (G) Carolina - Assigned to Charlotte of the AHL

Hot

Radim Vrbata (RW) Phoenix - The Czech native has to be loving the fact that the 'Yotes are opening the season in Prague. He netted twice and earned an assist in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Bruins.
Kristian Huselius (LW) Columbus - Huselius had a goal in each of the first two games for the Jackets, and added a helper on Saturday. Both goals have come with the man advantage, and if Huselius shares time on the power-play with Rick Nash, it could be a big year for the veteran Swedish winger.
Derek Roy (C) Buffalo - With three goals in Buffalo's first two games, Roy has had as hot a start as anyone in the league. The Sabres have a nice busy schedule in this first week, so Roy could win the week for owners who are in head-to-head leagues if this keeps up.

Cold

Thomas Vanek (LW) Buffalo - Zero points in the first two games is nothing to get too worked up about, but on top of his slow early start, Vanek is a minus-four. He has always been streaky, so he'll snap out of it, and when he does, it will be in a huge burst.
Tuukka Rask (G) Boston - There fear here is that Rask could be the next goalie who stands on his head one year in the playoffs and then falls off the map the next season. The Bruins defense did not help things, allowing 36 shots while Rask allowed four goals in Saturday's season-opening loss.

Recommended Pickup

Derek Stepan (C) New York Rangers - Quite the debut for a kid who was playing for the University of Wisconsin this time last year. A hat-trick to start his career is hard to ignore. He may be worth picking up and tucking away if you have room, just in case he turns out to be the real deal.