Blackhawks hit with loss of Brian Campbell
The flu bug that slowed Ottawa last week was nothing compared to the blows the Blackhawks and Islanders suffered on the injury front. Reports from Chicago are defenseman Brian Campbell's season could be done after the hit by Alex Ovechkin on Sunday. In New York, the Islanders' chances at the playoffs look slimmer now that captain Doug Weight will have shoulder surgery and goalie Rick DiPietro's knee put him on the shelf.
Time for a medical update from Dr. Chance. We told you last week about the Ottawa Senators getting beaten up by the flu bug; they took a plane out West and lost two out of three, handing you faders out there an easy unit in earnings.
After a couple of days convalescing at home, the Sens should be more competitive during Tuesday night’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs (+160), especially with Nick Foligno (23 points, plus-13 in 48 games) expected back in the lineup.
If only broken bones could heal as quickly. The Chicago Blackhawks are the latest team to lose a man to a borderline hit, and in this case, the perpetrator is arguably the best player in the game today.
Blackhawk down
Chicago (44-18-6, 3.35 units) might be without one of its top stars for the rest of the season. Defenseman Brian Campbell (38 points, plus-18 in 68 games) reportedly suffered a broken clavicle and broken ribs when he was plowed into the boards this past Sunday by Alex Ovechkin (44 goals in 61 games) of the Washington Capitals. Confirmation of Campbell’s condition was expected on Tuesday, with the Blackhawks next playing on Wednesday night in Anaheim against the Ducks.
The Capitals (46-14-9, 20.02 units) will have to do without Ovechkin for their next two games, starting Tuesday on the road versus the Florida Panthers. But that’s a small bump in the road. If the reports are accurate, Chicago’s Stanley Cup chances have taken a significant blow. The Hawks are 5-1 to win the Cup, just behind the favored San Jose Sharks at 4-1. Those betting odds look rather short all of a sudden.
The Weight
We’ve probably seen the last of Doug Weight (17 points in 36 games) this year, as well. The captain of the New York Islanders will go under the knife Thursday to repair his damaged left shoulder. This could be the end of the road for Weight at age 39, although he told reporters he’d do his level best to be NHL-ready by training camp. Weight has been playing (on and off) since November with both a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum.
The Islanders (28-32-9, 6.89 units) were one of this year’s pleasant surprises, making a boatload of money and challenging for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That seems like a pipe dream now after a 5-12-1 slide stretching back nearly two months.
Making matters worse, Weight is one of six Islanders to go on the shelf in March – including goaltender Rick DiPietro (.900 save percentage), who played only eight games before his surgically repaired knee started swelling. It’s too early for the Islanders to go into the tank and give up on the playoff hunt, but they’re getting very, very close.
Crown and Cola
Let’s have some good news for a change. The Los Angeles Kings (40-23-5, 11.86 units) are in very good shape to make the Western playoffs for the first time since 2002. And they’re in even better shape with the return of winger Justin Williams (24 points in 35 games) after missing 10 weeks of action with a broken leg. Williams is back on the top line with Anze Kopitar (32 goals in 68 games) and Ryan Smyth (20 goals in 53 games). And he nearly made an immediate impact Sunday against the visiting Nashville Predators (+150), but had a goal controversially waved off in an eventual 3-2 loss.
If you’re willing to ignore their lack of playoff experience, the Kings can be yours at 30-1 to win the Stanley Cup, down from 60-1 at the open. Their goal differential of plus-0.28 is higher than the defending champion Penguins (5-1 to win the Cup) at plus-0.20. They have depth at both ends and reliable if not stellar goaltending in Jon Quick (.909 SV%), tied for the league lead in wins with 37 and the father of a brand-new baby girl. It is indeed good to be a King.
The flu bug that slowed Ottawa last week was nothing compared to the blows the Blackhawks and Islanders suffered on the injury front. Reports from Chicago are defenseman Brian Campbell's season could be done after the hit by Alex Ovechkin on Sunday. In New York, the Islanders' chances at the playoffs look slimmer now that captain Doug Weight will have shoulder surgery and goalie Rick DiPietro's knee put him on the shelf.
Time for a medical update from Dr. Chance. We told you last week about the Ottawa Senators getting beaten up by the flu bug; they took a plane out West and lost two out of three, handing you faders out there an easy unit in earnings.
After a couple of days convalescing at home, the Sens should be more competitive during Tuesday night’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs (+160), especially with Nick Foligno (23 points, plus-13 in 48 games) expected back in the lineup.
If only broken bones could heal as quickly. The Chicago Blackhawks are the latest team to lose a man to a borderline hit, and in this case, the perpetrator is arguably the best player in the game today.
Blackhawk down
Chicago (44-18-6, 3.35 units) might be without one of its top stars for the rest of the season. Defenseman Brian Campbell (38 points, plus-18 in 68 games) reportedly suffered a broken clavicle and broken ribs when he was plowed into the boards this past Sunday by Alex Ovechkin (44 goals in 61 games) of the Washington Capitals. Confirmation of Campbell’s condition was expected on Tuesday, with the Blackhawks next playing on Wednesday night in Anaheim against the Ducks.
The Capitals (46-14-9, 20.02 units) will have to do without Ovechkin for their next two games, starting Tuesday on the road versus the Florida Panthers. But that’s a small bump in the road. If the reports are accurate, Chicago’s Stanley Cup chances have taken a significant blow. The Hawks are 5-1 to win the Cup, just behind the favored San Jose Sharks at 4-1. Those betting odds look rather short all of a sudden.
The Weight
We’ve probably seen the last of Doug Weight (17 points in 36 games) this year, as well. The captain of the New York Islanders will go under the knife Thursday to repair his damaged left shoulder. This could be the end of the road for Weight at age 39, although he told reporters he’d do his level best to be NHL-ready by training camp. Weight has been playing (on and off) since November with both a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum.
The Islanders (28-32-9, 6.89 units) were one of this year’s pleasant surprises, making a boatload of money and challenging for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. That seems like a pipe dream now after a 5-12-1 slide stretching back nearly two months.
Making matters worse, Weight is one of six Islanders to go on the shelf in March – including goaltender Rick DiPietro (.900 save percentage), who played only eight games before his surgically repaired knee started swelling. It’s too early for the Islanders to go into the tank and give up on the playoff hunt, but they’re getting very, very close.
Crown and Cola
Let’s have some good news for a change. The Los Angeles Kings (40-23-5, 11.86 units) are in very good shape to make the Western playoffs for the first time since 2002. And they’re in even better shape with the return of winger Justin Williams (24 points in 35 games) after missing 10 weeks of action with a broken leg. Williams is back on the top line with Anze Kopitar (32 goals in 68 games) and Ryan Smyth (20 goals in 53 games). And he nearly made an immediate impact Sunday against the visiting Nashville Predators (+150), but had a goal controversially waved off in an eventual 3-2 loss.
If you’re willing to ignore their lack of playoff experience, the Kings can be yours at 30-1 to win the Stanley Cup, down from 60-1 at the open. Their goal differential of plus-0.28 is higher than the defending champion Penguins (5-1 to win the Cup) at plus-0.20. They have depth at both ends and reliable if not stellar goaltending in Jon Quick (.909 SV%), tied for the league lead in wins with 37 and the father of a brand-new baby girl. It is indeed good to be a King.