The NHL only had 13 games scheduled this weekend with all of them played Saturday. Since I didn’t have any games to report on for Sunday I put a few things together for you to summarize the NHL so far this season.
Boston Bruins
The B’s hot and cold season continued Saturday night in Phoenix without the services of Milan Lucic as they lost to the Coyotes 4-1. Although they played an above average game, they ran into hot a goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov as he stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced. The B’s are now one game under .500 (3-4)
Who’s hot…. Who’s not
The Atlanta Thrashers are off to their best start in franchise history (4-1-0) and handed Buffalo their first loss of the season beating them 4-2.
After losing their opener, the New York Rangers have peeled off 7 straight wins giving them a share of the top spot in the NHL with Pittsburgh who has a 5 game winning streak of their own. Both teams are 7-1-0 and unlike the Rangers who are undefeated at home(4-0), the Penguins are undefeated on the road (5-0)
The Colorado Avalanche are riding a 4 game winning streak and top in the west with a 6-1-1 record, two points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks who are off to their best start in 27 years at 5-2-1
With the Rangers and Sabres off to great starts, fans in New York must be happy ( big deal from us Boston fans), not all is good as the Islanders are one of two teams still without a win at 0-3-3. Moping up the cellar so far this season are the Toronto Maple Leafs who after losing to the Rangers Saturday 4-1, gave the Leafs a 0-6-1 record. To us Boston fans we are wondering how Kessel is loving his new team.
Transactions and Key injuries
The Boston Bruins traded Chuck Kobasew to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday for Craig Weller, the rights to Alexander Fallstrom and a second round draft pick in 2011. The 28 year old Weller is 6’4, 220 # with 4 goals , 10 assists and 127 pim in 95 NHL games. He was playing for the Houston Aeros of the AHL. The 19 year old Fallstrom is currently in his freshman year at Harvard University.
Milan Lucic was placed on long term injured reserve Sunday with a broken index finger, meaning that he has to miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days making his earliest return on Nov 10th. With Lucic out, the Bruins recalled Lefebrve, Marchand and Sobotka from the Providence Bruins of the AHL.
Toronto’s defenseman, Mike Van Ryn will be out for the season with a torn MCL, he is scheduled for surgery on Oct 22nd
Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek is listed day to day with an upper body injury
Chicago’s Mirian Hossa is on injured reserve with a right shoulder injury
Islander’s Rick Depietro is out with knee surgery
Washington’s Jose Theodore is listed day to day with lower back spasms
Another week in the NHL and just like every week, I am here to give you the highlights and the things you may have missed over the last week. Look for this segment at Stick to Hockey every week as I recap the weeks stories all in one article.
Anaheim Duck, Scott Niedermayer tops my list of rumors I hope come true. Scott has reportedly been looking to come back to the east coast and is considering another stint at New Jersey, Philly and yes Boston. If anything does happen with Niedermayer, look for it to happen after the Olympic break.
The less than impressive Nashville Predators (2-4-1) come to Boston tonight hoping to do what the Bruins are looking to do by getting on track this season. The big question I have is, what Bruins team will we see tonight in this Jeckle and Hyde season.
