Sabres LW Gaustad out for season with torn tendon; D Spacek breaks hand
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
By Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It's one major injury after another for the Buffalo Sabres.
Shortly after general manager Darcy Regier announced Saturday that forward Paul Gaustad was to miss the rest of the season with a sliced tendon in his left leg, Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek broke his left hand blocking a shot during a 3-2 shootout win over Calgary.
''We're looking at weeks,'' coach Lindy Ruff said, referring to Spacek, who was hurt 16 minutes in.
The outlook is much worse for Gaustad, who is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday and not expected to return even if the Eastern Conference-leading Sabres make a deep playoff run.
''Right now, he's definitely done,'' Regier said during the first intermission. ''It'll be a long process back.''
Thrashers trade D Vishnevski to Nashville for C Belanger
Sat, Feb 10, 2007
By Associated Press
ATLANTA -- In a deal between first-place teams, the Atlanta Thrashers traded defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski to the Nashville Predators for center Eric Belanger on Saturday.
Belanger was dealt by the Central Division-leading Predators just one day after being acquired from Carolina for center Josef Vasicek.
The Thrashers, who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, also claimed Ottawa right wing Denis Hamel off waivers Saturday.
In dealing for Belanger, the Thrashers got needed depth up the middle and a center who won more than 53 percent of his faceoffs with the Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Belanger had eight goals and 12 assists in 56 games.
Last season, Belanger set career highs with 17 goals and 37 points for the Los Angeles Kings.
The 26-year-old Vishnevski was in his first season with the Thrashers after being acquired from Anaheim. He had three goals, nine assists and 31 penalty minutes in 52 games, but the Thrashers felt they could trade a defenseman with seven regulars at the position.
Hamel, 29, had four goals, three assists in 43 games for the Senators.
Bruins send Stuart and Primeau to Calgary for Ference and Kobasew
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
By Associated Press
BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins traded defenseman Brad Stuart and forward Wayne Primeau to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Andrew Ference and forward Chuck Kobasew on Saturday night.
Stuart, a key player in last season's trade that sent former Bruins captain Joe Thornton to San Jose, had been mentioned in recent trade talk because of his upcoming free-agent status.
Boston's inability to work out a new contract with Stuart forced the deal, completed just over an hour after the Bruins beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout.
''It became evident that when I wasn't having success signing Brad that I was going to have to trade Brad,'' general manager Peter Chiarelli said.
The 27-year-old Stuart was acquired with Primeau and Marco Sturm on Nov. 30, 2005, for Thornton - who went on to win NHL MVP honors with the Sharks last season.
Boston missed the playoffs and is in danger of being left out of the postseason again. The Bruins are last in the Northeast Division with 54 points.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The goalies below have been confirmed by a source:
Peter Budaj, Colorado Avalanche - Budaj is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Stars, reports the Rocky Mountain News. This was a no-brainer as Jose Theodore was downright horrible in the Avs' last game. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Johan Holmqvist, Tampa Bay Lightning - Holmqvist is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Devils, reports the Tampa Tribune. The Lightning coaching staff will not say it publicly, but Holmqvist has long surpassed Marc Denis and is now the #1 goalie in Tampa Bay. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Fredrik Norrena, Columbus Dispatch - Norrena is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Blackhawks, reports the Columbus Dispatch. Look for Pascal Leclaire to possibly serve as the backup and if that happens, Leclaire should be in line for starts next week. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Joey MacDonald, Detroit Red Wings - MacDonald is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Flames, reports the Detroit Free Press. Dominik Hasek will sit out at least the next two games with a wrist injury and Chris Osgood remains sidelined with a finger injury, so MacDonald will handle starting duties until either is able to return. Probability of start occurring: 90%
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The goalies below have not been confirmed by any sources:
Mike Smith, Dallas Stars - Smith is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Avalanche. There's been no word on who coach Dave Tippett is leaning towards, but with Marty Turco's recent shaky play and Smith's recent stellar play, we'll lean towards the latter starting today. Probability of start occurring: 65%
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils - Brodeur is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Lightning. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Blue Jackets. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames - Kiprusoff is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Red Wings. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Johan Hedberg, Atlanta Thrashers - Hedberg is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Oilers. Kari Lehtonen needs a rest sooner or later, right? Probability of start occurring: 55%
Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton Oilers - Roloson is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Thrashers. Probability of start occurring: 75%
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General goalie news:
Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings - Hasek will miss the next two games with an injured wrist, reports the Detroit Free Press. No one is sure when the injury occurred, but Hasek saw a specialist over the weekend and his wrist was found to be inflamed. Coach Mike Babcock is not worried about the severity of the injury but don't expect the Wings to take any chances with their aging star goalie. As noted above, Joey MacDonald will assume starting duties until further notice and Stefan Liv or possibly Jimmy Howard will be recalled to serve as the backup.
Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings - Osgood remains on the shelf with a finger injury, reports the Detroit Free Press. Coach Mike Babcock had originally expressed optimism that Osgood would be able to return and start Monday's game but that looks to be in great doubt as Osgood wasn't even able to hold his stick during the Wings' last practice. While there's a chance he could return towards the latter part of next week, fantasy leaguers should keep him benched until more definitive news becomes available. The timing of his setback couldn't have come at a worse time as with Dominik Hasek's injury would have allowed Osgood to get at least a few games under his belt.
Year-to-date: 1592 / 1680 = 94.8%