Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Price challenging for the Calder; Kane adds to rookie scoring lead; Carcillo notches a hat trick; Briere scratched; Kopecky out; Lemaire scolds Burns; Jagr returning to old form; and more...

PRICE CHECK 
In the crowded race for the Calder Trophy this season, it is the one at the top of the standings who has been forgotten.

Montreal goaltender Carey Price made his NHL debut on October 10, stopping 26 shots in a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Coincidentally, both Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy made their debuts against the Pens. Moreover, Price's debut fell on the exact same date as Saint Patrick's. Want some more irony? The last Montreal Canadiens player to win rookie of the year honors: Ken Dryden.

In an organization rich in tradition--a tradition of winning--Price is following in the footsteps of legends, and has the bleu, blanc et rouge tied with the Penguins atop the Eastern Conference standings. The rookie is 11-3-0 with a 2.20 GAA, two shutouts and a .930 save percentage since former starter Cristobal Huet was dealt to Washington. Simply put, Price has a pedigree of success. Price's father Jerry was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers, and is a cousin of Phoenix Coyotes winer Shane Doan. While rookies such as Patrick Kane, Nicklas Backstrom and Tobias Enstrom have had great statistical years, all three will miss the playoffs. Already a Calder Cup winner in the AHL and a gold medal winner at the World Junior Championships, Price may end up with more than just individual hardware at the end of this season.

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GONE FISHIN' 
According to The Globe and Mail, Ottawa center Mike Fisher and captain Daniel Alfredsson will miss 'weeks,' following injuries sustained during Thursday's 8-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. INTEL Alfie and Fisher are arguably the glue that holds the Senators together. Their two-way play may prove to be irreplaceable if the two do in fact miss playoff time. The jury is out on coach Bryan Murray however, as to whether or not his prognosis of the injuries taking 'weeks' to heal was an exaggeration.

FALLEN STAR 
Sergei Zubov has gone to Germany for a procedure to speed up the healing process from his sports hernia surgery, reports the Dallas Morning News. INTEL It is a good sign that Zubov is actively trying to heal and has intentions of returning, but it may be too little, too late. Without the veteran blueliner, Anaheim's forwards may overpower the young Dallas defense corps in the first round of the playoffs.

FLAME BURNS 
After Thursday's scrap with the Flames' Dion Phaneuf, Wild defenseman Brent Burns now has 24 PIM in his last three games. INTEL Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire sure wasn't impressed with Burns' act of bravery. "(If) he goes into a fight, he breaks his hand, whoops, what do we have left? That's what I'm thinking," he told the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

FROLOV FINISHING STRONG? 
Alexander Frolov has a six-game point streak at home against the Anaheim Ducks, heading into Saturday's contest. INTEL The "Steven Stamkos Sweepstakes" aren't enough to make the Kings roll over this season. Frolov hasn't scored in nine games, but has tallied six assists. He will look to continue his success against the Ducks, and keep the Kings out of the cellar this season.

RED LIGHT RUSSIAN 
Heading into their divisional matchup Saturday, Atlanta Thrashers sniper Ilya Kovalchuk has eight goals in seven games against the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. INTEL The Thrashers are unbeaten against the 'Bolts in the last five games. Kovy's bottom-heavy contract kicks in next season, at $7.5 million, and time will tell if he can build upon the momentum of this career year. With veteran Bobby Holik becoming an unrestricted free agent, the Thrashers may be able to afford a true first-line center to aid Kovalchuk.

GETTING THE LAST GETZLAF 
Ryan Getzlaf has four goals and two assists in his last four games against the Los Angeles Kings.INTEL Getzlaf had two assists in his return Thursday night, after missing three games due to a sore shoulder, giving him 79 points on the season. The third-year All-Star should continue to build momentum Saturday going into the playoffs, in hopes of leading the Ducks to a second consecutive Stanley Cup.

HITMAN HARTNELL 
Going into the Flyers' 3-0 win over the division rival New Jersey Devils, winger Scott Hartnell led Philadelphia forwards with 110 hits. INTEL Prior to Friday, Hartnell wasn't hitting the net too often against the Devils, with just one point in 14 career games. But the rugged winger redeemed himself, assisting on an R.J. Umberger goal less than six minutes into the contest. The Flyers now move into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

OKPOSO GOOD 
New York Islanders winger Kyle Okposo scored the second goal of his NHL career Friday night against the New York Rangers, and opened the shootout with another in a 4-3 victory. INTEL Okposo is adapting well to the professional game. His gritty play will surely land him in Ted Nolan's good books, and likely a significant amount of ice time next season. His flair for the dramatic won't hurt him either--his first NHL goal was a game winner on Martin Brodeur, and his second a tally against the cross-town rival Rangers.

SINKING SATAN 
Islanders winger Miroslav Satan scored his 16th goal of the season in the second period of a 4-3 shootout victory over the New York Rangers. INTEL Once one of the NHL's most reliable scorers, Satan finishes with less than 20 goals for the first time since his rookie season. The unrestricted free agent certainly won't land the $4.5 million that the Isles gave him, but he could be a 20-goal man again on a team that doesn't resemble an AHL squad.

TWO FOR HORTON 
Nathan Horton recorded a goal and an assist in the Panthers' 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Friday night. INTEL In addition to matching last year's point total of 62, Horton has become a more aggressive player this season, collecting 85 PIM.

BAD TIMING FOR TOMAS 
The Detroit Free Press reports that Red Wings forward Tomas Kopecky will miss the playoffs due to a torn ACL and sprained MCL suffered Thursday against the Blue Jackets. INTEL Kopecky will require surgery, and will need four to six months to heal afterwards.

RAISING KANE 
Chicago Blackhawks rookie Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist in the first period of a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. INTEL With 71 points, Kane now has a three point lead over fellow Calder candidate Nicklas Backstrom. More importantly to voters, he hasn't had the benefit of playing alongside the league leading scorer either.

JAGR REJUVENATED 
Rangers superstar Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist Friday night against the New York Islanders. INTEL Jagr has six goals and four assists in his last seven games. A little known fact about Jagr's contract is that his $8.36 million option would kick in if he were to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Perhaps Jagr has dollar signs in his eyes, and is turning it on for the postseason.

BOOK OF DANIEL 
The poster boy for "old-time hockey" Daniel Carcillo had a goal and two minor penalties in the first period alone against the Dallas Stars Friday. The NHL leader in penalty minutes added a power play goal in the second period and an empty netter in the third. INTEL Despite being the polar opposite to his former style of play, Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky loves Carcillo. With the ice time The Great One is giving him (nearly 13 minutes a game), the feisty winger will be the penalty minute king for years to come.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 
Goliath defenseman Zdeno Chara opened the scoring for Boston Friday night against his former team, the Ottawa Senators, and the Bruins never looked back en route to a 2-1 victory. INTEL Another former Senator, Peter Schaefer assisted on Phil Kessel's game winning goal, as the Bruins tied the Sens for sixth place in the East.

BRIERE BANGED UP 
Flyers diminutive centerman Daniel Briere was scratched from Friday night's contest with the New Jersey Devils due to a knee injury. INTEL The Flyers currently sit in eighth place in the East. With one game remaining, Briere's status is uncertain.