Another game, another head injury for Mikael Granlund.

The Minnesota Wild placed the center on Injured Reserve today after suffering what the team classified as an upper body injury - standard fare for head injuries as reported by Michael Russo of startribune.com :

Center Mikael Granlund has been placed on injured reserve with a head injury (officially upper-body, but I'm not blind), meaning he will miss at least a week or at a minimum three games -- probably more -- after three hard hits in the past eight games.

Obviously Granlund has a history of concussions, which are threatening to derail his season



Center Mikael Granlund has been placed on injured reserve with a head injury (officially upper-body, but I'm not blind), meaning he will miss at least a week or at a minimum three games -- probably more -- after three hard hits in the past eight games.
Granlund took a head shot from Toronto's Nazem Kadri, then took a hard hit four games later from Ottawa's Marc Methot where he crashed into the boards. He missed two games, returned to the lineup last night against Phoenix and was lost 29 seconds into his first shift when he was hit high by rookie defenseman Connor Murphy as Granlund tried to deliver a check.
Yeo said the Wild didn't rush Granlund back.
"To sit here and say in hindsight that I wish he didn’t play, of course," Yeo said. "But when a guy’s cleared to play, what are you going to do? You going to say no? He was cleared to play and obviously cleared to play with the idea that we wanted to be careful and think about the big picture. Sometimes things happen."
Left wing Jason Zucker, who played three games in Ottawa, Winnipeg and St. Louis before being reassigned yesterday to make room for Keith Ballard and Torrey Mitchell, has been recalled and should stay awhile now. Zucker scored twice in Iowa's win last night at Chicago.
He was sent down Wednesday with Darcy Kuemper. They had 3 p.m. flights that were delayed, they arrived for the game vs. the Wolves at 5:30 p.m. with only airport pizza in their stomachs and beat the Wolves. Zucker was pulled off the bus headed to Iowa after the game to go to an airport hotel for sleep, then a 4:30 a.m. wakeup call to fly back to Minnesota because of the Granlund injury.

Flames put Monahan, Wideman on shelf

The Calgary Flames have had a tough time scoring this season, so they really couldn't afford to lose what little firepower the team has been able to generate...

...but in losing rookie forward Sean Monahan and veteran defenseman Dennis Wideman, that is exactly what has happened.

The Flames announced on Thanksgiving Day that two of their top five points leaders have suffered injuries that will see them on the skids for the foreseeable future, terrible news for a team that has won just twice in their last ten outings and are challenging the Edmonton Oilers for the job of being the door mat of the Western Conference.

Wideman, a minute eater who has zero problem letting a shot or two off the chain and isn't afraid to mix it up in close quarters, will miss six to eight weeks with a broken bone in his hand suffered late in the Flames' loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday - the 6' 0", 200 pound blue-liner has two goals and 10 helpers this season.

Monahan started the season with the Flames under the premise to give him a nine-game indoctrination into the game played at it's highest level, then send him back to junior hockey to develop - but the game hasn't been too big for the sixth overall pick in the 2013 entry draft...

...but a hairline fracture suffered in the same loss to the Blackhawks has him listed as week-to-week.  Calgary can ill-afford to lose the enthusiasm and obvious talent of the 6' 2", 185 pound slick-skating 19 year old rookie, but both he and Wideman are on the Flames' Injured Reserved list nevertheless.

Calgary has called up center Paul Byron from the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia in a related roster move.

'Canes shelve Gleason again

There is some conjecture surrounding the injury Carolina Hurricanes' defenseman Tim Gleason that, if coach Kirk Muller's time table for his return is accurate, would cause Gleason to miss three more games.

The oft-injured alternate captain has been forced to the shelf three different times this season, limiting Gleason to just seven games played - missing ten games after getting jacked up in a fight with Montreal Canadiens forward Jarred Tinordi and suffering a concussion, and then another four games with an upper body injury.

There is mystery surrounding exactly when the current malady - a lower body issue - occurred, but it was either in the Hurricanes' overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday or perhaps in practice in the days following, the curious thing being that he was listed as a healthy scratch before Carolina hosted the Ottawa Senators the following evening.

Gleason did not make the trip with his team for the Hurricanes' win over the Devils in New Jersey Wednesday night and is expected to be out of action for a week.

The nine-year veteran has been the focus of trade rumors throughout the season, as the team has openly expressed their want for a puck-moving defenseman, and the secrecy and ambiguity surrounding Gleason's latest landing on the skids has helped to add fire to the speculation.

Gleason has been durable and consistent in recent seasons, so this season's injury plague has to be a disappointment for both player and management, not to mention the Hurricanes' fan base.

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/canes-shelve-gleason-again/

Jarred Tinordi

Duchene returns to Avs lineup

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene was on the ice for the team's practice on Monday, but wearing an orange "No Contact" jersey while the 22 year old slick skating scoring machine having just returned from a strained oblique.

Because of his injury status, Duchene was not made available to the media after the practice session, but Avalanche coach Patrick Roy indicated that the team's point leader wasn't expected to be in the lineup when the Avs hosted the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

So surprised and delighted was the Pepsi Center crowd when Duchene suited up and played in the game, and also that he played right on his season average of just under 18 minutes of ice time - though his return was spoiled somewhat as his Avalanche were punked by the Blues 4-1.

Colorado had won three straight since Duchene went on the shelf, but sit tied with their next opponent, the Minnesota Wild, for third place in the Central division.  The two teams are set to play a home-and-home series starting Friday night in St. Paul with the back end on Saturday night back in Denver.

Duchene returned straight to the top line between Cody McLeod and Ryan O’Reilly but failed to pad his team leading 12 goals and twenty total points.

There's reason for hockey fans to enjoy seeing Duchene back on the ice, no matter what team they root for, as he is truly one of the good guys in the game.

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/duchene-returns-to-avs-lineup/

Docs say 2-3 weeks, Wild's Parise says he's "day-to-day"

Zach Parise is tough.  After all, he is a hockey player.

The Minnesota Wild forward showed up at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday morning limping in a walking boot - the result of taking a puck to the foot while trying to block a shot by St. Louis forward Alexander Steen on Monday night - then emerged from the locker room in skates and ready to take part in the team skate.

He left the skate early after taking line rushes, but experiencing pain when trying to participate in other drills.

"I was hoping I could give it a shot, but as it went on and as I tried to do different things that are more game-like and reactionary, it hurt too much to try to be ale to play." Parise told startribune.com, "I know that I wouldn’t be effective or comfortable out there."

The eight year veteran has been diagnosed with a foot contusion and was expected to miss two to three weeks, but given the effort his alternate captain is putting forth, Wild fans shouldn't be shocked to see him back earlier.

"I’m more so taking it day by day and seeing how I feel and getting some treatment." Parise added, "I understand you have to, but I don’t like to put a time frame on things. I’ll try to play when I can."

At 15-7-4, the Wild's 34 points puts them dead-even with the Colorado Avalanche at 3rd place in the tough Central division, so Minnesota could use their leading scorer back when they host the Avs on Saturday night, not that it would matter to the 29 year old Parise who his team was playing.

"It wouldn’t matter to me who we were playing. I don’t like to miss games. I don’t want to sit out, so it doesn’t matter what the schedule looks like."

Photo credit - AP Photo/The Canadian Press/John Woods

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/docs-say-2-3-weeks-wilds-parise-says-hes-day-to-day/

Weaver returns from Panthers' IR; Kopecky and Gilroy still on shelf

Florida Panthers' veteran defenseman Mike Weaver, who has had a tough time battling a nasty case of the flu, is back battling rouge forwards.

The Panthers placed the 35 year old Weaver on Injured Reserve with the ailment in order to make room for Dylan Olsen to be recalled from their San Antonio affiliate, but was back on the ice for practice on Sunday and logged 15 minutes of ice time in his return against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

More recently, Weaver skated for 11:31 in a Wednesday night Panthers' loss to the New York Rangers.

All is not well with the Panthers, however, as Tomas Kopecky (upper body) and Matt Gilroy (lower body) were placed on the IR. Kopecky was hurt Thursday in Edmonton and could return Saturday; Gilroy will miss at least the next three games according to coach Peter Horachek.

Kopecky will be evaluated on Saturday morning for what has been reported as a hand injury, and it is hoped that he will be able to play on Saturday night when the Panthers host the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Panthers are in the midst of a five game homestand that should see them through the injuries to both players.

Photo credit - Getty Images

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/weaver-returns-from-panthers-ir-kopecky-and-gilroy-still-on-shelf/

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/25/3779864/combined-efforts-boost-florida.html#storylink=cpy

Penguins shelve injured Glass, Bennett; Martin day-to-day

The Pittsburgh Penguins have shelved Beau Bennett on the Injured Reserve list after the forward underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist, while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that winger Tanner Glass will miss time with a broken bone in his hand.

Glass (10) broke a bone in his left hand and will miss four weeks

In addition, coach Dan Bylsma announced that defenseman Paul Martin is day-to-day with an unspecified injury and will not skate for the Penguins when they host the Toronto Maple leafs on Wednesday night.

Bennett is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks, while Glass has a projected return time of four weeks.

The young Bennett has had trouble staying on the ice this season after splitting time between the Penguins and their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season - producing one goal and two helpers in twelve games thus far in the 2013-14 season.

Bennett broke the wrist in last Friday night's win over the New York Islanders, four games after returning from a lower body injury that kept him on the skids for 10 games - which leaves them severely short-handed as far as forwards are concerned, particularly in light of the Glass injury.

Glass broke his left hand Saturday in Montreal after blocking consecutive shots from defenseman P.K. Subban. Glass was seen rubbing his hand on the bench after blocking the shots and did not play against Boston on Monday.

The moves come as little surprise, as the Penguins recalled Zach Sill and Andrew Ebbett from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in anticipation of putting both forwards on the shelf.

Glass recorded two goals and four assists in 24 games this season, averaging eleven minutes of ice time per contest - but where he will be missed in particular is in his aggressive forecheck, his physical play helping him rank second in the NHL in hits.

 http://sportsinjuryalert.com/penguins-shelve-injured-glass-bennett-martin-day-to-day/

Blackhawks' Handzus returns, Bickell still on shelf

Michal Handzus is finally back in the lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Returning from the Injured Reserved list and playing in his first game since suffering a hand injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 24th, the 36 year old center logged nearly thirteen minutes of ice time paired on the Hawks' second line as a left winger teamed with Brandon Pirri and Patrick Kane.

Chicago defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-1, and with the win have eclipsed the Anaheim Ducks for the best record in the National Hockey League at 17-4-4, giving them a total of 38 points.

The Blackhawks were still short handed despite the return of Handzus, forward Marian Hossa missing the game to attend to a family matter while fellow forward Bryan Bickell sat out his third straight game because of a lower-body injury.

Handzus had been activated and rejoined the team on Saturday, but did not play in the Blackhawks' 2-1 victory, coach Joel Quenneville opting to bring him back in Edmonton, where the team was playing it's fourth in a streak of seven straight on the road, winning three straight after dropping the first game of the season-long roadie at Colorado.

“Last year when he joined our team, we used him in a bunch of different ways,” Quenneville said of acquiring Handzus from the San Jose Sharks at last season's trade deadline. “He plays center, kills penalties, he’s very reliable and we’re comfortable with him in many different places.”

So now Quenneville can be even more comfortable going forward with a pivotal piece of his offense back in place - and with Chicago already having the best record in the league, that's bad news for the rest of the NHL.

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/blackhawks-handzus-returns-bickell-still-on-shelf/

Sens' Borowiecki expected to play Wednesday

Ottawa Senators' defenseman Mark Borowiecki is expected to play against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night after being boarded by Carolina's Kevin Westgarth and leaving that contest on Sunday evening in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Hurricanes won the game but lost Westgarth for two games, as the league's Department of Player Safety suspended the forward for what could have potentially been a very dangerous hit.

Borowiecki had fallen in the corner on the backcheck and when trying to regain his feet and still in a vulnerable position, was hit from behind into the boards by Westgarth.  Borowiecki was helped to his feet and off the ice, the team announcing that he had suffered a strained neck and would not return.

In eleven games this season, the first year blue liner has notched on goal and been assessed 43 penalty minutes.

The injury could have been much worse, given the prone position Borowiecki was in trying to regain his feet - but given the fact that there was not a lot of force behind the hit and that Westgarth has not received supplemental punishment in his career and is not considered a dirty player, the two-game suspension seems appropriate.

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/sens-borowiecki-expected-to-play-wednesday/

Bosogian to IR, Jets activate Stewart

The Winnipeg Jets have placed defenseman Zach Bosogian on the injured reserved list retroactive to November 15th.

The oft-injured blue liner suffered a groin injury in Winnipeg's win over the Philadelphia Flyers and has been unable to return so the Jets have activated defenseman Mark Stuart to the active roster while Bosogian is on the shelf.

The Jets' win over the Flyers completed a four-game winning streak that got Winnipeg over the .500 mark for the first time this season, but have since dropped four straight to fall back below the line of mediocrity.

In 21 games played this season, Bosogian has fired 54 shots on goal but scored just once while collecting three helpers and has a +8 rating.

There is no time table set for Bosogian's return, but the rumored words are "week-to-week", so it made sense to move him to the IR retroacitvely, so that they can activate him as soon as he is healthy.

http://sportsinjuryalert.blogspot.com/2013/11/bosogian-to-ir-jets-activate-stewart.html

Penguins' Scuderi rehab on schedule

With Thanksgiving Day less than a week away, the Pittsburgh Penguins have many things to be thankful for - not the least of which was an encouraging update on injured defenseman Rob Scuderi.

Scuderi suffered a broken ankle on October 26th in Toronto and the team was informed at the time that the prognosis was that the All Star blue liner would be absent for six to eight weeks barring setbacks - so the news that Scuderi's rehabilitation is right on schedule for a Christmastime return is music to their ears.

A Boston College product, Scuderi spent 10 years in the Penguins' organization before bolting for the Los Angeles Kings in free agency when the Penguins couldn't afford to sign him with their salary cap restrictions - but he returned to the Penguins this summer as a free agent, the 6' 1", 220 pound 34 year old signing a four-year, $13 Million contract.

“Rob was three weeks post surgery (Wednesday),” coach Dan Bylsma said. “He's rehabbing at a moderate rate right now. Hopefully in the next seven days or so, he'll move on to a little more rehab as he progresses.”

Scuderi is considered a "stay at home" defenseman, meaning that he is generally a physical, defensive minded player who is an integral part of the Penguins' penalty kill units and is known to be an effective neutralizer of the opponents' best offensive weapons.

As a result of his playing style, Scuderi has just seven goals and 80 assists in his professional career but has averaged close to 20 minutes of ice time per game.

Though the loss of Scuderi was considered a major blow to the Penguins' defense, the team has persevered nevertheless, compiling a record of 15-8-0, good for first place in the Metropolitan Division with 30 points, which also puts them in a tie with the Boston Bruins for best record in the Eastern Conference.

Photo Credit - USATSI

http://sportsinjuryalert.com/penguins-scuderi-rehab-on-schedule/