'Tis the season.....

With the first third of the season now in the books, this is usually the time of year when the war of attrition begins to take it's toll on the NHL players phsyically.

The Vancouver Canucks lost a pair this week, as their goaltender Roberto Luongo will be out of action (currently listed day to day) for the immediate future with a rib contusion, and the NHL's current Iron Man Brendan Morrison will end his streak of consecutive games played at 542 as he undergoes wrist surgery this week. The Canucks were beginning to get their game together after a slow start and made a push to the top of the Northwest Division. Obviously losing Luongo for any period of time is a crushing blow to this team, as he is the cornerstone of the franchise. Markus Naslund who has rediscovered his game back on a line with the dancing Sedins will have to continue his great play to weather Luongo's absence.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be doing without the services of their number one goaltender also as Marc-Andre Fleury will be out of the lineup for most of the next two months with a high ankle sprain. Fleury was injured on the Pens Western Canadia trip against the Calgary Flames. The injury comes at a time where many were questioning Fleury's ability in net to truly be their number one keeper, and rumors were abound that the Pens might be looking at signing veteran Curtis Joseph as a backup. For now, backup Dany Sabourin will have to shoulder the load.

The San Jose Sharks sent forwards Jonathan Cheechoo and Jeremy Roenick to the land of the injured reserve list this week. Cheechoo sustained a groin injury against the Buffalo Sabres last weekend. Cheechoo had off-season hernia surgery, and has obviously not recovered fully. Jeremy Roenick who has experience a rebirth with the Sharks this season will be out of the lineup with a knee injury.

Quick Shave:
How about Mark Recchi? Placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins and picked up by the Atlanta Thrashers on re-entry waivers, Recchi played his first game with his new club this season, and the results were very positive. Recchi scored twice for the Thrashers last night in a losing effort as they fell to the Boston Bruins 5-3. Bruins new goaltender Alex Auld won his third straight for the club making 23 saves. If he's available in your fantasy leagues, grab the kid, and ride him while he's hot. Ryan Miller made 28 saves last night for the Buffalo Sabres as they defeated the New York Islanders 5-3. Jason Pominville had three assists, Maxim Afinogenov had a pair of helpers, and Ales Kotalik recorded a goal and an assist. For the Sabres to return to the dance, they need all of these guys to play like this night in and out. The New York Rangers forward Brendan Shanahan did all he could to get his team back in the game last night against the Washington Capitals last night. In the third period Shanny setup Straka for a score, and then tied the game himself 4-4. In overtime however he lost his edge, and the Caps took a two on one down the ice where Mike Green deposited the game winner. The Ottawa Senators have their game back. They thumped the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 last night thanks to a Dany Heatley who had a pair of goals, and 31 save performance by Martin Gerber. Goaltender Ray Emery left in the first period because he felt soreness in his hip. No word yet on how badly injured he was but it was said by Sens officials that he could have returned in an emergency (a Gerber collapse).

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh