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| Top scoring center Scott Gomez (bruised thigh) returned to action on Thursday night on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers. He missed the previous two contests |
Injuries, moves, rumors and newsmakers...
Bolts
and Thrashers look to win the Southeast;The Rangers, Isles and Avs take care of
business; Gomez returns to the Jersey lineup; Parent debuts for Philly; Schremp
also debuts for Edmonton; Hartnell returns for the Preds; Lidstrom rests his
wonky back; and more...
SOUTHEAST
SPOTLIGHT
All five Southeast Division clubs had the night off on
Thursday. However, two key match-ups--involving the top four teams in the
Southeast--highlight Friday's NHL schedule.
After inexplicably coming up
short on home ice Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals, the
first-place Atlanta Braves travel to Raleigh for a date with the defending
Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes--who were eliminated from playoff
contention earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning host their
cross-state rivals from South Florida.
After clinching a playoff berth
despite being idle on Thursday night, the Bolts now have their sights set on the
Southeast Division crown. Tampa Bay is currently one point behind Atlanta, but
also owns the first tie-breaker because of more victories (44 to 41). However,
the New York Rangers' win over Montreal Thursday moved them past the Bolts in
the Eastern Conference standings. The Florida Panthers would like nothing more
than to dash Tampa Bay's hopes for another division title.
As for the
Thrashers, they need to get back on the winning track in anticipation of their
first postseason appearance in franchise history next week. It should start with
Friday night's road win against the 'Canes, who should be a formidable opponent
while playing the spoiler's role. If nothing gets decided on Friday night, the
Thrashers will host the Lightning for all the marbles on Saturday night at
Philips Arena.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes defenseman Bret Hedican's most recent lower-body injury may
be career-threatening. Hedican underwent hip surgery earlier this season, and is
reportedly considering retirement because of his latest setback. The 36-year-old
Hedican was a central figure in Carolina's championship run a year ago and may
be sorely missed next season.
STILL
ALIVE!
The New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche did their best
to stave off elimination on Thursday night.
In the East, the Isles took
care of business by handing the Toronto Maple Leafs a 5-2 defeat on home ice.
The game still had playoff implications for the Isles because of the Rangers'
3-1 home victory over the Montreal Canadiens. In earning the win, the Blueshirts
secured a playoff spot of their own. Because of the victories of both New York
teams on Thursday, the idle Tampa Bay Lightning also secured a playoff spot in
the tight Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile out West, the Avs lived to fight
another day thanks to Milan Hejduk's hat
trick against the Vancouver Canucks. Colorado's 3-1 road win on Thursday,
coupled with Calgary's 4-3 road loss at San Jose, has moved the Avs to within
three points of the Flames with two games to play for both sides. In fact, the
Flames meet the Avs in Denver on Sunday night to close out 2006-07.
Lastly, congratulations go out to New Jersey netminder Martin Brodeur and Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray for breaking NHL single-season
records on Thursday. Brodeur is the new leader for goaltending victories with
48, while Souray recorded his 19th power-play goal against the Rangers to break
the mark among rearguards.
COYOTES
Defenseman Travis Roche missed Thursday night's home contest
against the Los Angeles Kings because of a groin injury. As a result, rookie
Matt Jones was reinserted into the Coyotes
lineup. Also, forward Jeff Taffe (foot),
who missed the previous two contests, returned to action against the Kings.
However, he was limited to just 24 seconds of ice time in the 3-2 win over L.A.
DEVILS
Top scoring
center Scott Gomez (bruised thigh) returned
to action on Thursday night on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers. He
missed the previous two contests. Gomez replaced regular linemate Brian Gionta (foot) in the 3-2 win over the
Flyers. Gionta is currently considered day-to-day. Right wing Cam Janssen (soreness) and Richard Matvichuk (IR--back surgery) were also
absent from the Devils lineup once again.
DUCKS Journeyman
defenseman Richard Jackman, who has been
scratched from the Ducks lineup seven straight times, is now battling back
spasms and is considered day-to-day. Also, goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere missed Wednesday night's
home shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks due to personal reasons. He could
return to action Friday on the road against the Dallas Stars.
FLYERS
The Flyers
got back winger Scottie Upshall (shoulder)
for Thursday night's home contest against the New Jersey Devils. He missed seven
of the team's previous eight games as a result of the injury. Upshall replaced
Mike York (healthy scratch) Also,
defenseman Joni Pitkanen (flu) missed the
3-2 loss to Jersey and was replaced by Ryan
Parent--who made his NHL debut.
MAPLE
LEAFS
After a one-game absence due to a lower leg injury, defenseman
Carlo Colaiacovo returned to the Maple
Leafs lineup on Thursday night on the road against the New York Islanders. As
the replacement for Andy Wozniewski,
Colaiacovo recorded one goal and one assist in the 5-2 loss to the Isles. Look
for Colaiacovo to log important minutes in Saturday's game versus Montreal.
OILERS
Rookie
center Robbie Schremp made his NHL debut
Thursday night on the road against the Minnesota Wild. Schremp took the place of
Shawn Horcoff, who missed the contest
because of an undisclosed injury. In 13:50 of ice time, Schremp registered two
shots on goal but was held pointless in the 3-0 loss to the Wild. Look for
Schremp to suit up on Saturday against Calgary.
PENGUINS
Defenseman Ryan Whitney (groin), who missed the Penguins'
previous contest against the Buffalo Sabres, returned to action Thursday night
on the road against the Ottawa Senators. Whitney replaced journeyman Alain Nasreddine (healthy scratch) in the 3-2 win
over the Sens. Whitney logged 20:35 of ice time and recorded an assist, one shot
on goal, 12 penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating upon his return.
PREDATORS
Winger Scott Hartnell (lower body) came off injured
reserve in time to return to action for the Predators on Thursday night at home
against the St. Louis Blues. Hartnell missed a total of 18 games because of a
reported broken foot. In his first game back, he registered an assist, 14
penalty minutes and one shot on goal. Hartnell took the place of Ramzi Abid, who was sent back down to the AHL's
Milwaukee Admirals earlier in the week.
RED
WINGS
Veteran defenseman Mathieu
Schneider (elbow) returned to the Red Wings lineup Thursday night on the
road against the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed one game. Schneider replaced
captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who missed the
contest to rest a sore back. Meanwhile, the Wings announced the signing of
center Cory Emmerton to an entry-level
contract on Wednesday.
SABRES
The Sabres
welcomed back Russian right wing Maxim
Afinogenov from a broken wrist on Thursday night at home versus the
Boston Bruins. He was activated off injured reserve after a 21-game absence. In
14:27 of ice time, Afinogenov registered an assist, four shots on goal and a
minus-1 rating in the 4-2 win over the B's. He played in place of enforcer Andrew Peters.
SHARKS
Energy
forward Mark Smith (groin) was activated
off injured reserve on Wednesday, but he was not reinserted into the Sharks
lineup against either Anaheim (Wednesday) or Calgary (Thursday). Also, veteran
winger Bill Guerin (groin) returned from a
one-game absence on Wednesday against the Ducks, but sat out against the Flames
the next night to rest up for the playoffs.
WILD
Veteran
defenseman Kim Johnsson missed his second
consecutive contest at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday because of
illness. The Wild didn't need the veteran Swede on either occasion, as they
completed a two-game sweep of Edmonton on Thursday night by a 3-0 margin. Shawn Belle and Matt
Foy, who were recalled earlier in the week from the AHL's Houston Aeros,
did not dress against the Oilers.
