Kukla's Korner

Marc-Andre Bergeron Out With Knee Injury

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 10:35 AM ET | Comments (0)

via TSN,

The Montreal Canadiens got more bad news on the injury front on Tuesday, as RDS reports that defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a left knee injury.

Bergeron, 29, was signed as an unrestricted free agent last fall.

In 51 games with the Canadiens this season, he has 10 goals and 28 points.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Montreal Canadiens | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Marc-Andre+Bergeron,

Emery May Be Facing Surgery

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 10:29 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News,

Michael Leighton started his third straight game in goal for the Flyers last night in place of Ray Emery, who underwent an MRI yesterday on his sore left hip.

A team source told the Daily News that Emery could have a torn labrum that may require surgery.

General manager Paul Holmgren said the results from the MRI were not immediately available yesterday.

“It seems to be an issue with a lot of goalies in the league and we’re hoping to learn from what Ray underwent today,” Holmgren said. “A lot of goalies have this issue because of the way they play, so I think it’s probably something like that.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Philadelphia Flyers | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Ray+Emery,

Capitals A Step Ahead Of Everyone Else When It Comes To Social Media

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 09:59 AM ET | Comments (1)

from Gene Wang of the Washington Post,

The Washington Capitals in recent years have moved more aggressively than any other NHL team toward embracing social media Web sites such as Twitter and Facebook, targeting supporters who get their information from non-traditional outlets.

Now, with the team in the midst of a franchise-record winning streak led by one of the world’s most dynamic hockey players in Alex Ovechkin, owner Ted Leonsis is hoping the social media strategy will pay off in expanding the club’s popularity and engagement with fans.

“The team blew up, and the team got great with really young kids who were very identifiable by the same generation that used that technology,” Leonsis said last week from his office at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. “So the co-mingling of this understanding of social media and technology and the team doing great, and the city wanting a winner, has really made this a very magical time for the franchise.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, NHL Media, Hockey Bloggers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

GDT - Game #59: Red Wings at Blues (8:00)

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Jeff OKWingnut

02/09/10 at 09:43 AM ET | Comments (5)

STL are coming off a 5-3 loss last night to the Av’s.  Chris Mason’s boxscore was ugly, surrendering 5 GA on 15 shots, before getting pulled in the 2nd. Conklin stopped all 18 shots in relief.  Per the St. Louis Post -Dispatch:  Colorado’s three-goal second period chased Mason from the game and sent the Avalanche on their way to a 5-2 victory over the Blues, ”who looked lethargic considering their playoff lives are on the line.”

DET fans must be pondering the same based on the Wings play of late.  3-5-2, is just unfathomable - - all while getting healthier. Playoffs?  Are you kidding me.  I just hope we can win another game.

Kronwall and Eaves are out.  Homer is questionable, and Mule is in.  Jimmy Howard will start for the 21st time in the last 23 games.  Asked why, coach Mike Babcock said with startling clarity, “Because I think it’s the right decision.’’ I’d have to agree, the Wings are rapidly approaching the point of no return; every game matters.  So says Holland:  “If we play .500 hockey the rest of the way, we’re not going to make it. We have to have some stretches where we go 8-2, 7-3. We just haven’t found ways to win games, and now we’ve got a huge week here with three games before the Olympic break.”

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

A Look Around The League

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 08:30 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,

• Lighter stuff: one of the funniest players in the NHL, Shawn Thornton, had a weird moustache going Sunday as the Bruins ended their 10-game losing run in Montreal. He tried a beard to break the bad streak, but shaved it into a handlebar moustache when that failed. He trimmed down that version after another loss, leading to the victorious current version. “Can’t shave it now,” Thornton said afterwards. “It’s a winner.”

• I think the Ilya Kovalchuk decision for Peter Chiarelli came down to this: he wasn’t willing to trade Toronto’s top pick, so would he give up a piece like David Krejci? Smart call to say no. The Bruins, despite their best hopes, are not a Stanley Cup contender.

• Reason to be wary of Tim Thomas rumours: Will he waive his no-trade? He has one for the first three years of his new contract. And, one of the beat guys was telling me Thomas has moved his entire family to Boston.

much more from Elliotte including his take on Bob Gainey…

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Ryan Whitney needs no validation

Blog: The Confluence By Tony

02/09/10 at 07:53 AM ET | Comments (0)

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Rob Rossi:

Defenseman Ryan Whitney, admittedly “pretty ticked off” upon hearing Dec. 30 from Team USA general manager Brian Burke that he was not on the initial Olympic roster, channeled his anger into inspiration instead of taking it as a crushing blow.

“I have a totally different perspective of how to handle things,” Whitney said Monday of the refined approach he adopted after last season, which he opened on the sidelines with a surgically repaired foot, included successful surgery on his mother to remove a brain tumor, and ended playing for the Anaheim Ducks after the Penguins traded him as part of a package for winger Chris Kunitz last February.

“It really is just a game ... and it’s a business, but none of it is personal. There is real life to deal with.”

Continue Reading:

Filed in: Pittsburgh Penguins | The Confluence | Permalink
  Tags: Anaheim+Ducks, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Predators Thinking Depth

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 07:10 AM ET | Comments (0)

from John Glennon of the Tennessean,

“We could use a tweak or two,” Preds Coach Barry Trotz said. “We’re actually scoring more goals than people thought we’d score, but we’re giving up a little more than what we want … So maybe a veteran penalty-killer or a real good faceoff guy, or maybe a guy that’s produced a little bit more (offensively).”

Who’s out there? Some of the forward names getting tossed around are those from teams that have nearly been eliminated from the playoff chase — Carolina’s Ray Whitney and Matt Cullen, Edmonton’s Fernando Pisani and Ethan Moreau, Toronto’s Alexei Ponika-rovsky, and Columbus’ Raffi Torres and Fredrik Modin.

As to whether the Preds might trade either Hamhuis or one of the goalies, Nashville General Manager David Poile at this point seems more inclined to hold on to those players.

more

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The Return Of Franzen

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 06:44 AM ET | Comments (4)

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The points-starved Detroit Red Wings aren’t expecting power forward Johan Franzen to be their savior when he returns to the lineup Tuesday in St. Louis after a four-month absence due to a torn knee ligament.

“We’ll give him one game before he can save us,” teammate Kris Draper said with a laugh. “No pressure.”

They joke, but they are excited to welcome back one of the NHL’s top goal-scorers the past couple of seasons. This injury-riddled team that has had trouble generating offense, both even-strength and on the power play, needs Franzen’s finishing touch.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Johan+Franzen,

What’s Happened To These Three Oilers?

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 06:40 AM ET | Comments (0)

from David Staples of The Cult Of Hockey at the Edmonton Journal,

They have become over-the-hill right before our eyes.

An uncertain moment. A step slow. A terrible mistake. Yet another goal against the Edmonton Oilers.

That’s the story of Shawn Horcoff, Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani’s 2009-10 season. All three of them have suffered numerous injuries in recent years, and while not one of them is ancient by NHL standards, they have failed to get the job done for the Edmonton Oilers this year, and one wonders if any of them will recover and be solid players again.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Getzlaf Injures Ankle

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/09/10 at 06:21 AM ET | Comments (0)

via Robyn Norwood of the LA Times,

The Ducks ended the Kings’ streak, but the two points in the playoff race might have come at a high price.

Ryan Getzlaf, the team’s leading scorer, sprained his left ankle during the second period and left the arena wearing a boot and on crutches. X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam is scheduled for Tuesday.

“That will give us a better indication of the severity of the sprain,” Coach Randy Carlyle said.

“Hopefully, he won’t be out too long,” Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said. “I don’t have to say what he means to this team, what he does for us. So hopefully it’s not bad.”

Niedermayer, also captain of Team Canada, said he hadn’t considered the potential impact on the Olympic team.

“I know he would love to play and wants to play, and we don’t really know how badly hurt he is right now. Hopefully he’s in our lineup in two nights. That would be good.”

Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Ryan+Getzlaf,

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