The Daily Puck: Approaching Royalty

The Daily Puck
by Kevin King, RotoWire Writer

Projected Goalie Starters

Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) vs. (Brian Boucher), 7 p.m.
Toronto (Jean-Sebastien Giguere) vs. Edmonton (Nikolai Khabibulin), 9 p.m.

Injuries for Teams Playing Sunday

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

Mike Comrie (C) Pittsburgh - (Undisclosed) No concrete news has come out about Comrie's status since late last week when it coach Dan Bylsma said he expects Hillary Duff's husband to be on the shelf for about a month.
Chris Kunitz (LW) Pittsburgh - (Undisclosed) Being called a game-time decision by coach Dan Bylsma for Tuesday night's game against the Flyers.
Evgeni Malkin (C) Pittsburgh - (Knee) Malkin told the media that he will play on Tuesday night against the Flyers.
Mike Komisarek (D) Toronto - (Finger) Isn't expected to play on Tuesday night, but is with the team as they begin a trip out West, and should return at some point during the road trip.
Jim Vandermeer (D) Edmonton - (Ankle) Will not play Tuesday night against the Leafs and no firm timetable has been set for his return after rolling his ankle in Sunday night's game against Vancouver..

Long Term or IR

Jordan Staal (C) Pittsburgh - (Hand) Will have additional X-rays done on his hand next week and remains out indefinitely.
Ian Laperriere (C) Philadelphia - (Concussion) Will most likely miss entire season with post-concussion syndrome.
Michael Leighton (G) Philadelphia - (Back) Likely to return later on this week.
Matt Walker (D) Philadelphia - (Hip) On conditioning assignment in Adirondack of the AHL, but with no room on the Flyers' 23-man roster, will likely stay in the AHL once conditioning assignment officially ends.
Jody Shelley (LW) Philadelphia - (Suspension) After a nasty hit on Boston's Andrew McQuaid over the weekend, Shelley was handed a two-game suspension and will miss Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Mike Brown (LW) Toronto - (Finger) Out three-to-five weeks
Ales Hemsky (RW) Edmonton - (Groin) Expected to sit out about a month.
Shawn Horcoff (LW) Edmonton - (Knee) Despite the fact that his torn MCL does not require surgery, Horcoff will still miss the next two months.

Transactions

Ryan Potulny (C) - Recalled by the Blackhawks
Willie Mitchell (D) - Activated from injured list by the Kings
Brad Richardson (RW) - Placed on injured list by the Kings
Warren Peters (C) - Assigned to Houston (AHL) by the Wild
Dan Kelly (D) - Recalled by the Devils
Harry Young (D) - Recalled by the Devils
Matt Corrente (D) - Assigned to Albany (AHL) by the Devils
Alexander Vasyunov (LW) - Assigned to Albany (AHL) by the Devils
Dough Weight (C) - Placed on injured reserve by the Islanders
Rhett Rakhshani (RW) - Recalled by the Isalnders
Dylan Reese (D) - Recalled by the Islanders
Adam Cracknell (RW) - Recalled by the Blues
Chris Porter (C) - Recalled by the Blues
Dave Scatchard (C) - Recalled by the Blues
Andrew Gordron (RW) - Assigned to Hersey (AHL) by Washington

Hot

Paul Stastny (C) Colorado - There is not a player on the planet hotter than Sidney Crosby, but in the last week, Stastny has been as hot as Sid the Kid. The Avs' budding superstar has six points (2 G, 4 A) in the last two games, and a five-game point streak.
Lubomir Visnovsky (D) Anaheim - Visnovsky has had a terrific season so far, and has caught fire with a goal and four assists in the last three games for the Ducks. 
Anze Kopitar (C) Los Angeles - Kopitar is having a monstrous December, and hasn't played a game this month where he hasn't earned a point. Kopitar, who finished off November on an ice cold streak, has five goals and three assists in the last five games.

Cold

Jiri Hudler (LW/RW) Detroit - Has not logged a point for the Wings in the last eight games as Hudler continues his tremendously disappointing 2010-11 season. 
Michal Handzus (C) Los Angeles - Handzus posted two straight seasons with 42 points before hitting the wall this year. He doesn't have a point in the last nine games for the Kings, despite consistently playing 17 to 20 minutes a night.
Jimmy Howard (G) Detroit - Howard has only one win in his last four starts, and has given up 13 goals in those three losses. He's played more this season than he has in his career and that may be catching up with him a bit.

Recommended Pickup

Anders Lindback (G) Nashville - Lindback just may be stealing a job in Music City. "The Beast" has posted back-to-back shutouts, and it hasn't been a product of not seeing a lot of shots. He had 34 and 35 stops in separate games last week, and has stopped the last 50 pucks that he has seen. Definitely pick up Lindback in day-to-day leagues, and even in weekly leagues, he should be on a roster, especially if you're struggling with goalies.