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Ray Flowers

Frozen Pucks

November 13, 2009 2:57pm CST

INJURED STARS
Rick DiPietro (knee, hip) is thought to be about a month away from returning to the lineup for the Islanders. Apparently, doctors feel that DiPietro has become too muscular in his attempt to return his brittle body to full health. Hey, if you can't stay healthy enough to play you might as well get buffed to help out your dating life.

Marian Hossa signed that big deal with the Blackhawks and then was forced to go under the knife to fix the issue in his shoulder. As a result he hasn't appeared in a game yet, though it appears that drought is about to end. Hossa returned to nearly a full practice on Thursday, and even had some physical battles in the workout. "I had a few battles in the corner. I felt pretty comfortable, but I feel when I'm still pushing the power is not there." Looks like he is about 10 days away from making it back to active duty. Be sure to activate him immediately when he steps on the ice.

Milan Lucic hopes to return from his finger injury on Thursday next week. He won't be returning to skate alongside Marc Savard who is still out with a foot injury, but the Bruins desperately need his physical play up front. Some scoring wouldn't hurt either.

Possibly the three biggest Russian hockey players in the world are all on the mend, with one of three already back on the ice. Ilya Kovalchuk (broken foot) beat the estimate for his return to the ice by a week, and in his first game back he had a goal and two assists. So much for there being some rust. In nine games on the year he has terrorized opposing netminders with a whopping 10 goals. Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) is progressing quite nice as is Alexander Ovechkin (shoulder). The duo of dynamic forces of nature could be back in the lineup this weekend, or early next week at the latest according to the most recent reports.

IN THE NET

Martin Brodeur is 11-4 on the year with a 2.17 GAA (how amazing is this guy?). He has won eight of his last nine decisions and has allowed just seven goals in his last five games.

Ray Emery is 10-3-1 in his return to the NHL for the Flyers (he spent last year in Russia trying to recapture his form on the ice while proving he was mature enough to handle being an NHL star after his myriad of run ins in Ottawa). Emery, who is sporting a .924 save percentage on the year, has won each of his last five starts never allowing more than two goals in a contest.

Marc-Andre Fleury has a fine record of 10-6-0 on the year. The problem is that at one point he was 8-0-0. That's right, since October 21st he has gone 2-6 including losing each of his last four starts. It's not like he has been unlucky either as his GAA in that stretch of four contests is 3.90.

Henrik Lundqvist has won at least 30 games in each of his four NHL seasons while posting at least 37 victories the past three years. He is well on pace for another 30-victory season with his total of eight wins in 16 appearances, but it's been his play of late that is drawing the most interest, and not in a good way. Henrik has allowed seven goals in his last two starts, both loses, and he is also 1-4 in his last five games.

Steve Mason has been A-W-F-U-L this season after lighting the world on fire last year. In 14 appearances on the year he has gone 7-5-2 with a 3.67 GAA and a putrid .879 save percentage. Things were at their absolute worst in his last outing when he was simply beaten back into the Stone Age by the Red Wings as he allowed eight goals in 48 minutes of action. All told he has allowed at least six goals in a game in three of his last nine contests.

Tomas Vokoun is 4-8-1 on the year, which from the face of it would lead you to believe that his play has been laughably pathetic. However, he owns a superb .924 save percentage as his teammates haven't helped him out much at all. Over the last week and a half Vokoun has taken things into his own hands by simply not allowing any pucks to enter the net as he has shut out the opposition three times in four games. To read more about Vokoun, take a look at Between the Pipes - Eastern Conference.

FORMER STAR DEFECTING?

Looks like this jersey could soon be a collectors item (from the author's personal collection).
Michael Nylander recorded 83 points in 2006-07 for the Rangers, then signed a big money deal to join the Capitals. It hasn't worked out well - at all. In year one with the Caps he was injured but he still recorded 37 points in 40 games. Last season his production fell off the cliff and he registered a mere 33 points in 72 games. Flash forward to this season and the Caps have no intention of inserting him into their lineup, and they have tried desperately to move him - finding no takers of course since he is due roughly $8.5 million over the next two years. Nylander may move on the KHL which would alleviate the Caps of the $4.875 million cap hit this season, though they would still have to pay his actual salary ($5.5 million).

SHARKS STREAKING

Over the last 12 contests the Sharks have rolled to a 9-1-2 record. As a result, they currently lead the NHL with 29 points (they also lead the way with 20 games played, tied with Vancouver). It's about time everyone admits that this team is a legit contender for the Cup, even with their recent failures in the playoffs (you can read about that disappointment in When is Enough, Enough?). Still, the fact that they sit atop the standings as the season is nearing the quarter pole is rather shocking given the following conditions.

Ryane Clowe has only two goals and eight points.

Joe Pavelski, the second line center, has been active for only five games do to injury.

Devin Setoguchi, a first line winger, has missed seven games with injury.

Rob Blake, the captain, is currently on the shelf with a shoulder injury which has caused him to mist 20 percent of the games so far.

Considering those key injuries to some of their top players the fact that they have played so well has to be considered quite a shock and it certainly doesn't bode well for their opponents when the Sharks return to full strength.

Talking about streaking, I should mention the New Jersey Devils who have won each of their first nine road games this season, just one off the NHL record to start a season (Buffalo Sabres in 2006).

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