This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the League
The latest on P.K. Subban is that he was able to move his extremities and will undergo further evaluation. It's just been one thing after another for the Canadiens, who had started the season with so much promise.
There wasn't anybody really at fault on the play; hockey's a fast sport, collisions happen, and unfortunately this one ended up having someone get hurt. The Habs are undoubtedly going to miss their best defenseman.
PK Subban left with a neck injury Thursday night. Since his rookie year, Subban's been a hugely integral part of MTL pic.twitter.com/JBR1pfF73w
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) March 11, 2016
Jeff Petry is out for the season with a sports hernia and the making the playoffs has become an impractical challenge, so there's no rush to hurry Subban. If the Habs are cautious with Subban's return, no one would ever blame them.
Michel Therrien's go-to guys now will be Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, a solid but not-as-dynamic pair that will play all situations. Mark Barberio will see more power-play time because of a solid AHL resume, while fringe defensemen Victor Bartley and Greg Pateryn will eat up the remaining minutes.
The Habs have yet to make an official move, but it would be most logical to call up Morgan Ellis, a fourth-round pick from 2010 in the midst of a breakout season in the AHL, who also appeared in three NHL games earlier in the season. He's in his contract year and making a strong case for an extension, and if he plays well with the Habs, may also perhaps make a strong case for a roster spot next year.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury) at Blue Jackets (Sergei Bobrovsky), 7:00 PM
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Lightning (Ben Bishop), 7:30 PM
Ducks (John Gibson) at Blues (Jake Allen), 8:00 PM
Blackhawks (Corey Crawford) at Stars (Kari Lehtonen), 8:30 PM
Coyotes (Louis Domingue) at Flames (Joni Ortio), 9:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Friday
Pittsburgh Penguins
Kevin Porter, C (ankle) – tweeted this on Saturday; no return date set.
Oskar Sundqvist, C (undisclosed) – expected to miss a few weeks; no return date set.
Ben Lovejoy, D (upper body) – skated in non-contact jersey Thursday; no return date set.
Beau Bennett, RW (upper body) – skated in non-contact jersey Thursday; no return date set.
Carl Hagelin, LW (concussion) – game-day decision; questionable.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jack Johnson, D (upper body) – no return date set.
Brandon Saad, LW (upper body) – day-to-day; questionable.
Philadelphia Flyers
Jakub Voracek, RW (lower body) – will not play; should return next Tuesday against Detroit.
Michael Del Zotto, D (wrist surgery) – out for the season.
Jordan Weal, C (upper body) – no return date set.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Anton Stralman, D (illness) – game-time decision; probable.
Braydon Coburn, D (lower body) – game-time decision; questionable.
Anaheim Ducks
Sami Vatanen, D (upper body) – left Wednesday's game; questionable.
Chris Stewart, RW (fractured jaw) – out a few more weeks.
St. Louis Blues
Brian Elliott, G (lower body) – practicing; no return date set.
Alexander Steen, LW (upper body) – no return date set.
Steve Ott, C (hamstring) – aiming for playoff-time return.
Chicago Blackhawks
Marian Hossa, RW (leg) – did not play Wednesday; questionable.
Dallas Stars
Jordie Benn, D (lower body) – will not play.
Devin Shore, C (shoulder surgery) – out for the season.
John Klingberg, D (lower body) – will not play.
Patrick Sharp, LW (lower body) – will not play.
Jason Demers, D (shoulder) – out six weeks.
Arizona Coyotes
Joe Vitale, C (concussion) – out for the season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D (shoulder) – day-to-day; questionable.
Mike Smith, G (lower body) – skated Wednesday; no return date set.
Anders Lindback, G (Achilles) – placed on injured reserve; no return date set.
Jarred Tinordi, D (suspension) – in violation of league drug policy; serving 20 games.
Calgary Flames
Sam Bennett, LW (upper body) – game-time decision; questionable.
Ladislav Smid, D (upper body) – no return date set.
Karri Ramo, G (torn ACL) – out for the season.
Dennis Wideman, D (suspension) – will not play.
T.J. Brodie, D (upper body) – game-time decision; questionable.
Deryk Engelland, D (lower body) – did not play Wednesday; questionable.
Hot
Brent Burns, SJ, D – Four goals, five assists and 24 shots in his past five games. Throw in another 11 penalty minutes and a plus-7 rating and he's been the best fantasy player over the past week. This guy is going to get robbed of a Norris Trophy nomination (not win, sorry).
Mark Scheifele, WPG, C – Dylan Larkin is the first Red Wing rookie to score 20 since Henrik Zetterberg? *SPITS* Despite the loss, Scheifele's assist on Tyler Myers' goal extended his point streak to six games, including a hat trick against the Habs and has been Paul Maurice's de facto No. 1 center. This kid's going to be a top-50 fantasy player next year, easily.
Cold
Tyler Seguin, DAL, C, - He hasn't scored a point in five games and clearly hasn't quite recovered from a minus-4 pasting against Nashville. The Stars need to score some goals now more than ever with a decimated defense and... and whatever it is they're calling "goaltending" down there. He's got Chicago (Toews), St. Louis (Backes), L.A. (Kopitar), Tampa (Stamkos), Long Island (Tavares) and then Chicago (kill me now) again over the next stretch. They could go 0-6. Stars… first-round exit? So possible.
Chris Kunitz, PIT, LW – He hasn't scored a goal in five games despite playing with Sidney Crosby and, yeah, he's just not very relevant anymore. He has 12 goals on the season and remains a stout forward for the Pens, but he's a third-line player.
Recommended Pickup
Jack Eichel, BUF, C – He's owned in just a little over three-quarters of Yahoo leagues but deserves a spot on any fantasy roster. Him and Sam Reinhart have been on fire recently. A noted shooter, he has three goals in his past five games and 204 shots on goal, which is a lot for a rookie. He's a 30-goal scorer next year, for sure.
