The Daily Puck: Hockey Day in ... Canada

The Daily Puck
by Kevin King

- Happy Hockey Day in America! Is it just me, or shouldn't "Hockey Day in America" involve more than just four American cities hosting NHL games? Not to mention the fact that those games will be upstaged by Montreal and Calgary's outdoor game on Sunday evening.
- What is going on out West? The Avalanche and Ducks hardly resemble NHL teams at this point. Colorado hasn't won a game since January, and the Ducks are hemmoraghing goals in record fashion.
- Edmonton's Taylor Hall was definitely the biggest star of Saturday night. Hall earned the first hat trick of his career against the Thrashers.

Washington (Semyon Varlamov) vs. Buffalo (Ryan Miller), 12:30 p.m

Washington injuries:

Tom Poti (D) - Out. There has not been one word about Poti's status from the Caps, yet he hasn't played since January 12.
Mike Green (D) - Doubtful for Sunday with ear injury.
Eric Fehr (RW) - Out Sunday with shoulder injury. Took part in non-contact drills at practice on Saturday but is still a ways away.

Buffalo injuries:

No Significant Injury News

Philadelphia (Michael Leighton) vs. NY Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 12:30 p.m

Philly injuries:

Mike Richards (C) - Questionable for Sunday after missing Friday night's game with flu-like symptoms. If we had to bet, we'd bet on Richards being on the ice on Sunday.
Blair Betts (C) - Doubtful for Sunday with injured finger.

NY Rangers injuries:

Derek Boogaard (LW) - Out for Sunday as he still cannot shake post-concussion symptoms.

Detroit (Jimmy Howard) vs. Minnesota (Niklas Backstrom), 12:30 p.m

Detroit injuries:

Valtteri Filppula (C) - Out for Sunday with knee injury but is expected to return within the week.

Minnesota injuries:

Mikko Koivu (C) - Out Sunday after injuring his hand Friday night against the Ducks.

Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) vs. Chicago (Corey Crawford), 3:00 p.m

Pittsburgh injuries:

Dustin Jeffrey (C) - Out Sunday with lower-body injury.
Nick Johnson (RW) - Doubtful for Sunday after leaving practice on Friday with an upper-body injury.
Arron Asham (RW) - Out for Sunday, battling post-concussion symptoms.
Chris Kunitz (LW) - Out Sunday with lower-body injury.
Eric Tangardi (C) - Out Sunday as he also battles post-concussion symptoms.
Sidney Crosby (C) - Out, and nothing new to report as Sid battles to recover from a concussion.

Chicago injuries:

Fernando Pisani (RW) - Out for Sunday with what is being called a head injury.

Montreal (Carey Price) vs. Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff), 6:00 p.m

Montreal injuries:

Hal Gill (D) - Probable for Sunday after missing time this week with upper-body injury.
Mathieu Darche (LW) - Questionable for Sunday with undisclosed injury.
Michael Cammalleri (C) - Expected to play Sunday after missing about a month with a shoulder injury.
James Wisniewski (D) - Questionable for Sunday after being hit in the face with a puck in Thursday's game.
Jaroslav Spacek (D) - Out, and did not accompany team on road trip due to lower-body injury.

Calgary injuries:

Cory Sarich (D) - Doubtful for Sunday with undisclosed injury.
Adam Pardy (D) - Out for Sunday and out indefinitely with upper-body injury.

TRANSACTIONS

Chris Stewart (RW) St. Louis - Acquired via trade with Colorado
Kevin Shattenkirk (D) St. Louis - Acquired via trade with Colorado
Philip McRae (C) St. Louis - Recalled from Peoria (AHL)
Tyson Strachan (D) St. Louis - Recalled from Peoria (AHL)
Erik Johnson (D) Colorado - Acquired via trade with St. Louis
Jay McClement (C) Colorado - Acquired via trade with St. Louis
Patrick McNeill (D) Washington - Assigned to Hershey (AHL)
Justin Braun (D) San Jose - Recalled from Worcester (AHL)
Jason Demers (D) San Jose - Recalled from Stockton (ECHL)
Benn Ferriero (C) San Jose - Re-assigned to Worcester (AHL)
Matt Irwin (D) San Jose - Re-assigned to Worcester (AHL)
John Moore (D) Columbus - Assigned to Springfield (AHL)
Cody Almond (C) Minnesota - Recalled from Houston (AHL)
Brandon Nash (D) Montreal - Assigned to Hamilton (AHL)
Kyle Turris (C) Phoenix - Assigned to San Antonio (AHL)
Nolan Yonkman (D) Phoenix - Recalled from San Antonio (AHL)
Tim Wallace (RW) Pittsburgh - Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Who's Hot

Keith Yandle (D) Phoenix - Yandle has improbably become the front-runner for the Norris Trophy, and he's on fire again. In the last three game Yandle has a goal, four helpers and is a plus-6 for the red hot Coyotes.
Olli Jokinen (C) Calgary - There may not be a streakier guy in the NHL than Olli, and he's at it again. Jokinen has 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in the last five games for the Flames.
Johan Hedberg (G) New Jersey - Moose has been unreal in relief of injured Marty Brodeur for the Devils. Hedberg has six straight wins, and hasn't given up more than two goals in any of those wins. The ride may be over however, as Marty should be back this week.

Who's Cold

Andrei Kostitsyn (LW) Montreal - Kostitsyn is beginning to hear the boos at home because of his eight game pointless streak. It doesn't help that he's also a minus-8 over that period and has not ended the night in the plus category since January.
Milan Hejduk (RW) Colorado - Hejduk's terrific season has hit the wall. He has already met any preseason projections, but like the Avs, the veteran winger's season in unravelling. It has been five games since Hejduk earned a point, and he's consistently a minus, night in and night out.
The Anaheim goaltending situation - This could get ugly with Jonas Hiller on IR with the always scary "lightheadedness." Curtis McElhinney and Timo Pielmeier combined to allow nine goals on Saturday night, and Anaheim has allowed a staggering 21 goals in the last three contests. Stay away from either Pielmeier or McElhinney at all costs.

Recommended Pickup

Kris Versteeg (LW) Philadelphia - He's going quick now that he's out of Toronto, but if you're putting your lineup together for the upcoming week and need a winger, Versteeg is your guy - if he's still available on the waiver wire. Once he gets his legs under him in his new surroundings, he could pay big dividends.