Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Leafs' rebuild starting to show promise; Clowe returns for Sharks; Hasek shuts the door in return; Foppa out again; Smyth slumping; and more...

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT 
With all the injuries that the Maple Leafs sustained during the current stretch run, coach Paul Maurice has been forced to rely heavily on the club's youngsters. In fact, they've played so well that even when Mats Sundin and Nik Antropov returned from their ailments, the kids continued to see lots of ice.

Rookie defensemen Anton Stralman scored twice on Saturday against Montreal to give him his second two-point game in his last five outings. He is also a plus-4 during that span. All points to Stralman being a fixture next season. Another rookie, Jiri Tlusty, also had a pair of goals Saturday. The 20-year-old has six points in his last seven games and is on track for a permanent first or second-line job within a couple of years. Meanwhile, third-year winger Alexander Steen is in the midst of a three-game pointless skid, but prior to that was on quite a roll with 15 points in 14 games. The 24-year-old will build on that next season and remains a vital piece of Toronto's retooling.

The Leafs are in line to finish 21st in the NHL this season, and they plan to start Andrew Raycroft in Tuesday's contest against the Sabres. The top players in the coming draft consist of Steven Stamkos and six highly-regarded defensemen. The next best forward behind Stamkos, Nikita Filatov, may be passed over by teams who fear the lack of transfer agreement with the RSL. The Leafs are very deep on the back end, so if they can hang onto a top-nine selection they could very well add Filatov to their stable. With another Russian, Nikolai Kulemin, already on his way over next season, Toronto fans can finally start to see a light.

---

WHITNEY STRUGGLING 
Pittsburgh rearguard Ryan Whitney is battling for ice time. He played just 13:57 on Sunday and 8:32 of it was on the power play. INTEL: Whitney has been a disappointment for poolies all season-long and he's currently in Michel Therrien's doghouse. With the likes of Kris Letang chomping at the bit, Whitney had better step it up.

DOMINATOR DOMINATES 
Dominik Hasek returned to the Red Wings' lineup after missing the previous two games with the flu. He made 22 saves for the 1-0 shutout over Nashville Sunday. INTEL: The shutout was Hasek's fifth of the season. All five have come while facing fewer than 23 shots.

FRANZEN ON FIRE 
Johan Franzen broke a franchise record with his sixth game-winner in a single month, as the Wings topped the Predators 1-0 in overtime. INTEL: The goal gives Franzen 14 in his last 13 games. Playing with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk has sparked him into being one of the hottest players in the league right now.

FOUR WEEKS FOR SAKU? 
The Team 990, a radio station in Montreal, is reporting that Habs captain Saku Koivu could be gone for four weeks with a broken foot. INTEL: If this is true, it would be a devastating blow to Montreal's playoff hopes. More will be known when the swelling in Koivu's foot goes down.

FOPPA NEWS 
Peter Forsberg did not play Sunday in Colorado's 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota. His groin was acting up again. INTEL: Foppa had seven points in three games prior to the setback. If you're scoring at home, Forsberg has played seven games this season and has missed seven games with injury. Expect that to continue until the Avs are eliminated from the playoffs.

SNAPPED 
Colorado sophomore Paul Stastny was held off the scoresheet Sunday in the 3-2 loss. It snapped his eight-game point streak. INTEL: Stastny collected 12 points during that span, but the streak was just a personal one as he missed a March 20 game with the flu.

SNAKE-BITTEN SMYTH 
Sniper Ryan Smyth has not scored a goal in his last eight games. He has just four assists in that span. INTEL: His 14 goals, if he fails to score another in the final two contests of the season, would be his lowest total since 1998 when he had 13 with Edmonton.

AS THE CLOWE FLIES 
San Jose winger Ryane Clowe returned to the lineup Sunday and notched an assist just 14 seconds in. INTEL: The power forward lined up with Joe Thornton and Milan Michalek. He had missed the last 67 games with a knee injury, but now looks like a great last-minute rotisserie pickup, as well as a dark horse for the playoffs.

FOUR-SPOT FOR BOURQUE 
Washington prospect Chris Bourque potted four goals in Saturday's American League game against Hamilton. The Hershey forward then followed that up with two assists on Sunday. INTEL: The diminutive left wing has played four games this season with the big club and should get a long look in the fall in training camp.

REMEMBER THAT? 
Columbus forward Nikolai Zherdev scored a goal in the team's 5-4 overtime loss against Chicago Sunday. It was just his second marker in 17 games. INTEL: Zherdev has just nine points during that span and is quickly turning his breakthrough season into a so-so one. Still just 23, these slumps should come less frequently next campaign.

SETOGUCHI SIDELINED 
San Jose rookie Devin Setoguchi did not dress for San Jose's 3-1 win over Phoenix on Sunday because of bumps and bruises. The win eliminated Phoenix from the playoffs. INTEL: Setoguchi probably would have played if not for the return of Clowe. The youngster has had a solid start to his NHL career and should surpass the 20-goal mark next year.