Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

The race for last; Forsberg questionable for Saturday; Polak back in the NHL; Miller returns for Vancouver; Ebbett gets another shot in Anaheim; Pittsburgh's injury list continues to grow; the Sabres get two wingers back; and more...

SPUTTERING FOR STAMKOS? 
While most of the 30 NHL teams are still squarely in the hunt for a postseason berth, there is also a race at the bottom of the standings that is well under way.

It's the annual chase for the top seeding in the NHL draft lottery, which was won by the Chicago Blackhawks last season (they eventually selected Patrick Kane with the No. 1 overall pick). This year's prize could be OHL center Steven Stamkos, who is expected to go first overall. The teams currently in position to be in the draft lottery (only the bottom five clubs can move into the No. 1 spot) include the Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators (with Florida's pick as part of last year's Tomas Vokoun trade) and Anaheim Ducks (with Edmonton's pick as part of the payment for the signing of Dustin Penner last summer).

However, there is a logjam for that fifth and final spot, as the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues and Blackhawks are all one point ahead of Edmonton in the current standings. Meanwhile, Washington Capitals are just three points up on the Oilers. Of all the teams mentioned above, only the Caps appear to still be firmly in position to make a run at the postseason. In fact, they were buyers at the trade deadline earlier this week by adding goaltender Cristobal Huet, center Sergei Fedorov and winger Matt Cooke.

As for the Leafs, management is clearly looking towards the future but someone forgot to send the memo to the locker room. Following an overtime loss at Tampa Bay Friday night, Toronto has now earned at least one point in their last four games--not the sign of a team ready to call it a season. Toronto plays at Washington on Saturday night in one of five games with lottery implications. The Kings are in Colorado, while the Lightning play at Carolina, the Thrashers visit Boston and the Blues host the San Jose Sharks. Remember, in this race, who he finishes last laughs the loudest.

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AVALANCHE 
Don't expect veteran Swede Peter Forsberg to be in the Avalanche lineup on Saturday night at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Forsberg is expected to skate Saturday morning with his teammates but will likely make his second Avalanche debut next Tuesday night when the Vancouver Canucks visit the Pepsi Center. The 34-year-old Forsberg's last NHL game was with the Nashville Predators last spring.

BLACKHAWKS 
The Blackhawks once again assigned winger Kris Versteeg back to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs on Friday. The 21-year-old winger was most recently recalled to skate on Thursday at Dallas as a replacement for injured winger Martin Havlat (shoulder). In 12 NHL games this season, Versteeg has produced two goals and four points--to go along with an even plus/minus rating.

BLUES 
Czech defenseman Roman Polak was recalled from the AHL's Peoria Rivermen on Friday. The 21-year-old Polak appeared in 19 NHL games last season but was beaten out in training camp by fellow rookies Erik Johnson and Steve Wagner. Polak could get an audition until the end of the year, since St. Louis is starting to fade away from the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

CANADIENS 
Veteran energy forward Steve Begin missed Friday night's road win against the Buffalo Sabres due to a groin injury. He was replaced by fellow vet Bryan Smolinski, who played on the fourth line with Maxim Lapierre and Guillaume Latendresse. Expect Begin to also miss Saturday night's home contest against the New Jersey Devils. He's currently listed as day-to-day.

CANUCKS 
Veteran defenseman Aaron Miller was activated off IR in time to suit up Friday night at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Miller missed 10 games because of a hairline fracture in his leg. Also, rugged winger Jeff Cowan returned from his one-game suspension. To make room for both Miller and Cowan, Mike Weaver and Brad Isbister were healthy scratches on Friday.

DUCKS 
Sent back down to the AHL's Portland Pirates earlier in the week, rookie center Andrew Ebbett was recalled on Friday. He was back in the Anaheim lineup against the Calgary Flames later in the evening. With Doug Weight, Todd Marchant and Ryan Carter all on injured reserve right now, and since Ducks GM Brian Burke did not acquire another center before the trade deadline, Ebbett has a chance to establish himself in the NHL.

FLAMES 
Winger Eric Nystrom, who produced a goal and five points in 34 NHL games earlier in the season, was recalled from the AHL's Quad City Flames on Thursday. Nystrom was in the Calgary lineup Friday evening on the road against the defending champion Anaheim Ducks. He replaced veteran winger Marcus Nilson, who was a healthy scratch.

HURRICANES 
German defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who has been on injured reserve since injuring his ankle on January 17, could return to action on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The return of Seidenberg would be timely, since Tim Gleason is now out with a head injury. AHL call-up Tim Conboy has recently been seeing time along the 'Canes blueline due to the injuries.

PENGUINS 
The Penguins recalled defenseman Alex Goligoski and forward Connor James from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday. Both could be in the lineup on Saturday afternoon against the Ottawa Senators, since defenseman Ryan Whitney is currently day-to-day because of a groin issue and newcomer Marian Hossa will miss at least one week (and probably more) because of a sprained MCL in his knee. Both were hurt on Thursday night against Boston.

SABRES 
The Sabres welcomed back wingers Drew Stafford and Maxim Afinogenov from injury on Friday night at home against the Montreal Canadiens. The latter was activated off injured reserve following a 26-game absence because of a groin injury, while Stafford was activated off IR after missing 11 of Buffalo's last 14 games because of a right ankle injury. Enforcer Andrew Peters and rookie Clarke MacArthur were scratched to make room for Stafford and Afinogenov.