I swear I just wrote about this the other day.

Oh yeah I did! NHL players are dropping like Value Jets.

The latest rash of injuries is once again dotted with a few very big names. The Atlanta Thrashers have lost their captain and unquestionably their best player Ilya Kovalchuk to... what else!?! A broken foot. Kovalchuk will be out 3-5 weeks, which is unfortunate for the Thrashers who are second in the South East Division due in large part to his hot start. Kovalchuk has 9 goals and an assist in his first 8 games.

The Colorado Avalanche will be without the services of gritty forward Darcy Tucker who sustained a concussion after being hit by the Carolina Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu. Ruutu deposited Tucker's face into the glass last Friday night and he had to be carried off the ice via stretcher after several minutes of lying motionless. The Avs have placed Tucker on the IR and the NHL suspended Ruutu for 3 games for the boarding penalty. Ruutu as you know is Finnish for smash Tucker's face into the boards.

The New York Rangers will wait anxiously today to find out if their star forward Marion Gaborik will be out for an extended period of time. Gaborik left last night's game midway through the third period after scoring 2 goals and helping on another during the Rangers 5-2 defeat of the Phoenix Coyotes. In 12 games this year Gaborik has collected 18 points (10 goals, 8 assists) and is a +6. The key stat here is the 12 games, which is roughly what he played last season in Minnesota... and could be all he'll play here in New York this year... unless his injury is minor. Fingers crossed gang.

Quick Shave:
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their first game of the year, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 on the back of a 3 goal game from Niklas Hagman. My buddy Stache brings up a great point here... mention the win, even the celebrate the win, because it may not happen again.... ever. WAY TO GO LEAFS!!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh