The Daily Puck: Royal Pain

Around the League

- The biggest news from Saturday has to be Los Angeles' costly 4-1 win over the Avs. The Kings lost Anze Kopitar for the rest of the regular season and playoffs after he suffered a broken right ankle. You just don't replace 25 goals and 50 assists two weeks before the end of the season ... and owners of Kopitar in fantasy leagues may be kissing their championship hopes good-bye as well.
- Hardcore fans have to be pretty elated to see Carolina drop to five points out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference. The Canes play a brand of hockey that's pretty fun to watch, but they have cheerleaders and have to explain what icing is to their fans during home games. Watching some of their loss to Tampa on Saturday, my stomach literally flipped when I heard the Carolina television announcers call their fans the "Cane-i-acs." 
- Good luck on what is probably a huge Sunday in your league. Remember to check our starting goalie grid for the latest news on confirmed starters for Sunday's games.

Florida (Tomas Vokoun) vs. Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury), 1:00 p.m

Florida injuries:

David Booth (LW) - Questionable after leaving Friday night's game when he took a puck to the throat.

Pittsburgh injuries:

Mark Letestu (C) - Out Sunday, but nearing his return from a concussion.
Brooks Orpik (D) - Will play Sunday according to coach Dan Bylsma.
Dustin Jeffrey (C) - Questionable with leg injury.

Ottawa (Craig Anderson) vs. Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec). 2:00 p.m

Ottawa injuries:

No Significant Injury News

Atlanta injuries:

Patrice Cormier (C) - Questionable for Sunday with upper-body injury.
Jim Slater (C) - Doubtful to play Sunday as he recovers from concussion.
Freddy Meyer (D) - Doubtful as well on Sunday because of an upper-body injury.

Vancouver (Cory Schneider) vs. Columbus (Steve Mason), 5:00 p.m

Vancouver injuries:

Tanner Glass (LW) - Questionable with a rib injury.
Mikael Samuelsson (RW) - Questionable with leg injury.

Columbus injuries:

Ethan Moreau (LW) - Out with foot injury.
Anton Stralman (D) - Questionable with lower-body injury but is has targeted Sunday as a return date.
Grant Clitsome (D) - Questionable with knee injury that kept him off of the team's recent two-game roadtrip. Sounds like a game-time decision.

Boston (Tim Thomas) vs. Philadelphia (Brian Boucher), 7:00 p.m

Boston injuries:

No Significant Injury News

Philadelphia injuries:

Kimmo Timonen (D) - Probable but is dealing with a stiff neck.
Chris Pronger (D) - Out with hand injury. He is back practicing, but may have suffered a tiny setback in his recovery.
Jody Shelley (LW) - Out, and could miss over a month after undergoing surgery to repair broken orbital bone in his left eye.

TRANSACTIONS

Mike Brodeur (G) Ottawa - Assigned to Binghamtom (AHL).

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Who's Hot

Ryan Miller (G) Buffalo - Miller has won a bunch of money for his owners this week, if his awful week last week didn't manage to end their season (I'm not bitter or anything though). Ryan posted three victories on the week, two of those being shutouts. With a four-game week ahead, and Miller playing as well as he has played all year, he should continue to bring in cash for his owners.
James van Riemsdyk (LW) Philadelphia - JVR came up large on Saturday for the Flyers, netting the first hat-trick of his NHL career.
Henrik Lundqvist (G) NY Rangers - Like Ryan Miller, Lundqvist is carrying the Rangers on his back as the playoff race gets tighter. Hank posted a shutout in Saturday's win over the Bruins and has now won seven of the last eight games that he has started.

Who's Cold

Wojtek Wolski (LW) NY Rangers - Wolski hasn't posted a point in the last seven games, despite the Rangers playing great hockey over that stretch. Diminshed playing-time has come with the slump and Wolski should only be started if you are absolutely stuck.
Anton Babchuk (D) Calgary - The Ukranian defender has been a nice addition to the Flames' blueline, but he has sputtered down the stretch offensively. He was a nice sleeper pick on defense, but his recent quiet streak has dampened his value.
Tomas Vokoun (G) Florida - Everything is lined up for Vokoun and the Panthers to fall on their face against the Pens on Sunday. Vokoun has put together two straight dreadful performances, losing both games while giving up eight goals. All the elements are there for another stinker, but "kiss of death" rules mean Vokoun will look like Patrick Roy on Sunday.

Recommended Pickup

Tyler Ennis (C) Buffalo - If for some odd reason Ennis is available in your keeper league, do not delay ... pick him up right now. As the season comes to a close, it may be time to put an eye towards next year. Ennis has 40-goal potential, even in Lindy Ruff's system. Even in non-keeper leagues, where he's more likely to be a free agent, he can help you now. The little guy has nine points (5 G, 4 A) in Buffalo's last eight games.