- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Canucks Ryan Kesler played six games with a broken foot. He initially suffered the injury back on Feb. 15th and will now be out for 4 to 6 weeks with a fractured right foot.
“He has blocked a few shots and that foot had taken two X-rays that were negative, but the scan gave us another version,” said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault.
“Other than some discomfort, he was handling it well. Any fracture is four to six weeks, depending on the nature and some are less with hairline fractures.”
- Dan Rosen via twitter: Evgeni Malkin staked for about 30 minutes yesterday. He didn’t report any concussions symptoms on Tuesday.
- Renaud Lavoie via twitter: Canadiens Raphael Diaz is out with a concussion.
- Sarah Baicker of CSN Philly: Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson blocked a shot in the 2nd period and didn’t return.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith was hit by Dustin Penner last night.
“It was more whiplash than anything,” Smith said. “But, he did get me in the shoulder, and it was the same shoulder. I came back, so it wasn’t too bad, but – the puck wasn’t even around, so that was what was interesting about the whole thing.”
Smith was sore but is expected to play tonight against the Sharks.
- Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun: The Edmonton Oilers have put goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on the injured reserve with a bad groin. He’ll be on the IR for at least a week.
“It is a little frustrating, in my situation especially,” said the 40-year-old veteran, who had been in world class form. “Coming from a big injury, rehabbing and getting ready, starting to feel good and actually getting playing time — and now this happens.
“It’s not too serious, but it needs to be taken care of. It’s just really annoying, that’s what it is.”
- Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: Avalanche center Matt Duchene didn’t skate yesterday due to a groin injury, but hasn’t been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Flames. Avs defenseman Erik Johnson skated with teammates yesterday, which may have been his first time since suffering a concussion on Feb. 11th. Defenseman Ryan Wilson, out with an ankle injury, is still not ready to begin skating.
- Kevin Kurz via twitter: Sharks Tommy Wingels is doubtful for today and Martin Havlat is probable.
