Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The goalies below have been confirmed by a source:
Mike Smith, Dallas Stars - Smith is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Red Wings, reports the Dallas Morning News. While no one could have said for sure, smart fantasy leaguers should have Marty Turco on their bench for this week as we doubt he will play until next week as the Stars give him a chance to practice his way through his slump. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Martin Gerber, Ottawa Senators - Gerber is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Panthers, reports the AP. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins - Fleury is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blackhawks, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Probability of start occurring: 90%
Vesa Toskala, San Jose Sharks - Toskala is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Predators, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Probability of start occurring: 90%
The goalies below have not been confirmed by any sources:
Manny Legace, St. Louis Blues - Legace is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jackets. Legace started last night's game and was pulled in favor of Curtis Sanford. However, Sanford didn't fare much better as coach Andy Murray decided to yank him and put Legace back in. Probability of start occurring: 65%
Pascal Leclaire, Columbus Blue Jackets - Leclaire is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blues. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Ed Belfour, Florida Panthers - Belfour is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Senators. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens - Huet is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Devils. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils - Brodeur is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Canadiens. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks - Khabibulin is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Penguins. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Sharks. Probability of start occurring: 75%
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings - Howard is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Stars. We'll get an update on this later, but it's possible that Joey MacDonald could get the call despite a subpar game on Monday. Probability of start occurring: 55%
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks - Luongo is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Wild. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild - Backstrom is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Canucks. Probability of start occurring: 85%
Year-to-date: 1618 / 1706 = 94.8%
Sabres' Connolly slowed by leg injury
Tue, Feb 13, 2007
By Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Tim Connolly will miss at least a week of workouts because of a leg stress fracture, the latest setback for the Buffalo center who's missed nine months with concussion-related headaches.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday that tests revealed a broken bone below Connolly's knee. The player complained of soreness since he began practicing with the team 10 days ago.
''Talk about bad luck. He gets slapped with it again,'' said Ruff, who did not say which leg Connolly hurt.
Ruff said the injury won't stop Connolly from developing his upper-body strength and stamina. Connolly was injured during Game 2 of Buffalo's second-round playoff series against Ottawa in May.
It marked Connolly's second serious concussion in his six-year NHL career. The first forced him to miss the entire 2003-04 season.
Hockey Today - February 14
Wed, Feb 14, 2007
By Associated Press
Florida at Ottawa (7:30 p.m. EST). Senators forward Dany Heatley has five goals and seven points in two games against the Panthers this season.
STARS Tuesday
-Peter Budaj, Avalanche, stopped 39 shots in his second shutout of the season, leading Colorado to a 2-0 win over Anaheim.
-Ed Belfour, Panthers, made 29 saves for his first shutout in nearly three years, lifting Florida to a 1-0 win over Montreal.
STILL GOT IT
Ed Belfour made 29 saves for his first shutout in nearly three years, helping Florida to a 1-0 win over Montreal on Tuesday night. The 41-year-old goalie's 76th career shutout drew him even for eighth on the NHL career list with Tony Esposito. It was Belfour's first blanking since April 3, 2004, at Ottawa with Toronto - a span of 86 games.
KEEP IT UP
Brandon Bochenski scored for the fourth time in four games since he was traded to Boston, helping the Bruins to a 3-0 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday night.
SNAPPED
The New York Islanders hadn't won in Toronto in 11 previous attempts dating to March 2002 before Tuesday night's 3-2 shootout win.
HOME FIRES
Calgary is 9-0-1 in its last 10 home games and lead the NHL in wins with a 23-5-1 record after Tuesday night's 4-1 win over Atlanta.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Bill Guerin had a hat trick in St. Louis' 6-5 loss to San Jose on Tuesday night, giving him 25 goals for the season. It was Guerin's seventh NHL hat trick and first since March 3, 2004, when he was with Dallas. Guerin, who also had an assist, is the first Blues player to record a hat trick at home since Scott Mellanby scored four times against Phoenix on March 6, 2003.
SLUMPING
Anaheim has now lost three straight games after a 2-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday night. The Ducks haven't scored in two contests - going 139 minutes, 16 seconds without a goal. ... Montreal dropped its fourth in a row after a 1-0 loss to Florida. The Canadiens are 8-15-1 since a season-high, five-game winning streak from Dec. 12-21.
TROUBLE AT HOME
Toronto is 11-13-4 at home this season after Tuesday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Islanders. Only Philadelphia, the NHL's worst team, has fewer home victories (5) than the Maple Leafs.
SPEAKING
''I was awful. That's what happens when you bring your 'Z' game against one of the top teams in the league.'' - St. Louis goalie Manny Legace, who was pulled in the second period of Tuesday night's 6-5 loss to San Jose.