The Daily Puck: Brodeur's Back

The Daily Puck
by Kevin King

- Maybe New Jersey's defense deserves a lot more of the credit for making Johan Hedberg look like Patrick Roy in the absence of Marty Brodeur. In his first game back after missing three weeks of action, Marty looked like he hadn't missed a day, stopping 25 pucks in New Jersey's 2-1 win over Florida on Sunday.
- Happy trade deadline day! It's one of the best days of the year in the NHL, and although it almost never lives up to the hype, you never know who could be on the move. 
- A very light slate tonight - but remember to keep an eye on the goalie grid for official news on tonight's starters.

Chicago (Marty Turco) vs. Minnesota (Niklas Backstrom), 8:00 p.m

Chicago injuries:

Fernando Pisani (RW) - Doubtful with head injury.
Jordan Hendry (D) - Doubtful as well after leaving Sunday's game with lower-body injury.

Minnesota injuries:

Kyle Brodziak (C) - Probable. Has target Monday as his return date from an illness.
Cody Almond (D) - Questionable for Monday with lower-body injury.
Mikko Koivu (CA) - Out with broken finger.
Cam Barker (D) - Questionable for Monday as the Wild return home. Barker missed the team's recent road trip due to upper-body injury.

Detroit (Jimmy Howard) vs. Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 p.m

Detroit injuries:

Brian Rafalski (D) - Questionable. Likely a game-time decision after missing Detroit's last game due to back spasms.

Los Angeles injuries: 

No Significant Injury News

TRANSACTIONS

Brad Boyes (RW) Buffalo - Acquirted by Sabres from St. Louis
Stefan Chaput (C) Boston - Acquired by Bruins in trade with Anaheim
Brian McGrattan (RW) Anaheim -Acquired by Ducks in trade with Boston
Greg Nemisz (C) Calgary - Re-assigned to Abbotsford (AHL)
Brent Seabrook (D) Chicago - Signed five-year contrat extension with Blackhawks
Colin Greening (C) Ottawa - Re-assigned to Binghamton (AHL)
Roman Wick (RW) Ottawa - Re-assigned to Binghamton (AHL)
Corey Locke (C) Ottawa - Re-assigned to Binghamton (AHL)
Dustin Jeffrey (C) Pittsburgh - Re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)
Brian Strait (D) Pittsburgh - Re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)
Joe Vitale (C) Pittsburgh - Re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL)
Todd Ford (G) Washington - Re-assigned to Hershey (AHL)
Chris Phillips (D) Ottawa - Signed three-year contract extension with Senators

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Who's Hot

Miika Kiprusoff (G) Calgary - Calgary's resurgence is largely in part to Kipper, who posted his fifth shutout of the season on Sunday. Thanks to Kiprusoff, the Flames snagged three huge points with a 1-0 win over St. Louis. 
Phil Kessel (RW) Toronto - Kessel has it rolling for the Leafs, and added anothergoal to his tally on Sunday, making it three goals and four helpers in the last three games for Toronto.

Who's Cold

Niclas Bergfors (RW) Atlanta - Bergfors isn't exactly inept offensively. He has shown flashes of being a legitimate 20-goal candidate, but he is more of a grinder. Still, no excusing an eight point dry spell in which he has posted a minus-8.
Ryan Wilson (D) Colorado - No player on the Avs embodies their struggles more than Wilson, who has been a disappointment this season after a very promising 2009-10. He has matched his goal total from last year, but has 10 fewer assists than he did last year, and is on a horrid 13-game pointless streak that has dropped his plus-minus from a plus-7 to a minus-4 for the season.   

Recommended Pickup

Brad Boyes (RW) Buffalo - Boyes provides immediate help to the Sabres, who have been thin on the wing all season long from an offensive perspective. Add to it that Buffalo has four games in the upcoming week, and Boyes could be a sneaky pick-up, especially in those weekly leagues.