Wednesday's key NHL matchup notes
Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals
Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 16-6 at the St. Pete Times Forum, but has been outscored 10-5 in losing its only two road games with Vaclav Prospal posting two goals. The Lightning have not opened a season with three straight road losses since 2000-01.
Buffalo Sabres at Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes look to continue their early season success and snap a five-game losing streak against the Buffalo Sabres when the teams meet at the RBC Center on Wednesday.
Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers
The Atlantic Division-leading Flyers look to continue their success away from home and try for their sixth consecutive victory when they face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night to begin a key season-high, six-game road trip.
Vancouver Canucks at Detroit Red Wings
Henrik Zetterberg capped Saturday's scoring with his seventh tally of the season. He has scored a goal in a career-high six straight games and has recorded a point in each game this season. He hasn't fared as well against Vancouver, which has held him to four goals and two assists in 15 career games.
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames
Minnesota (7-0-1) is off to the best start in franchise history despite not having scored more than three goals in any game this season. Oft-injured Pavol Demitra could be sidelined on Wednesday night when the Wild meet the Calgary Flames at Pengrowth Saddledome.
Oilers' Souray placed on IR
October 24th, 2007
Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - The Edmonton Oilers placed defenseman Sheldon Souray on injured reserve Wednesday.
The club will be without their prized free-agent acquisition for 3-to-4 weeks after he sustained a separated left shoulder.
The injury occurred as Souray, who signed a five-year contract in the summer, fell to the ice during a third-period fight with Vancouver's Byron Ritchie in on October 13.
A native of Elk Point, Alberta, Souray enjoyed a career year last season for the Montreal Canadiens after scoring 26 goals and picking up 38 assists. Nineteen of his 26 goals came on the power play, setting a new NHL record for power play goals by a defenseman.
This season, the backliner posted just one goal and one assist in six games before being sidelined.
Edmonton has recalled defenseman Ladislav Smid from Springfield of the American Hockey League to take Souray's place. Smid picked up three goals and 10 points in 77 games last season for the Oilers.