The quick weekly NHL wrap-up:
Colorado is getting into injury trouble. With a less then stellar start to the season, players are being reminded this is not an all-star team and to start playing hockey again. Seems to have worked, but the coming road trip which includes back to back games against first New Jersey and then across the river to meet with the Rangers. However, Kariya is expected back either tonight against the Devils or tomorrow. Latest reports say he is with the team on this road trip. Selanne is also day-to-day and with the team, but is not expected to play tonight. Larsen and McAllister are both also day-to-day. Hahl, Svatos, and Worrell are all out for indefinitely.
Montreal... what to say about Montreal. The only bigger surprise has been the performance of Atlanta early this season. Montreal has turned into 28 of the other 29 teams though, and adopted a very strict defensive game. Last season I would have said it couldn't be done by their core group, their blue-line is too small, etc etc. This year it seems to be working for them. That is even without captain Saku Koivu, who should provide a scoring boost to the ranks when he returns from his knee injury suffered in the pre-season.
Toronto is not without their injuries as well. Antropov is going to be evaluated again soon and could need season ending surgery. If not, he will be out at least until December. Renberg should be back soon, as well as Kidd. Right now Toronto is playing pretty well. Belfour is looking as good as last year (actually better, this time last year he wasn't playing very well at all) and the team is starting to click again. Many in Toronto are looking for this team to make it deep into the playoffs. Personally I see it going either way. The team is sound, but I don't think they have much of a chance to make it past the first or second rounds. We will have to see how they look in December. At least the season is still young.
Around the rest of the NHL, the Sharks are bottom of the west, with only one point more then bottom-of-the-league Capitals. Vancouver is keeping momentum from last season and are quickly pulling away from the rest of the west. Boston seems to be doing the same in the east. Vancouver leads the league with 16 points. Calgary is doing fairly well right now, due mostly to the fact Roman Turek got injured. Rookie goalie McLennan has played very well, notching all four of Calgary's wins this season. It will be interesting to see what will happen when Turek has mended. Finally last night, Minnesota finally announced they have come to terms with hold-out Marian Gaborik. The contract is a three-year deal worth $9.5 million US (the same contract the Wild have been offering this whole time) but with a slightly modified bonus package.