Key Players Find Themselves on the Shelf

There must be something in the air as we see some pivotal fantasy players take a turn for the worse.

Last night, Ryan Getzlaf left his game with a sprained right ankle after an awkward collision with King’s captain Dustin Brown.  He will undergo an MRI today as the fantasy world and Team Canada eagerly await results.  If he cannot play in the Olympics, look for a player like Brad Richards, Steven Stamkos or Jeff Carter to take his place.

Shane Doan also left his game, last night’s 6-1 drudging of the Edmonton Oilers, with an upper-body injury.  According the the Coyotes, he did not skate with the team and remains questionable for Wednesday night’s game.   Oddly enough two other players, Joel Perrault and Vernon Fiddler, also suffered upper-body injuries proving the Oilers can hit, just not win.

Last but not least, Marian Gaborik and Henrik Lundqvist collided during practice leaving the Slovakian star with a leg laceration.  Reports claim Gaborik will be ok after receiving stitches, but assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld refused to comment on whether the star right wing will be ready for his next game.  Team Slovakia certainly hope he can make it to Vancouver in one piece as the oft-injured winger hardly missed any time this year.

In good news, the Capitals recalled Semyon Varlamov from the Hershey Bears while Johan Franzen, Mike Ribeiro and Tuomo Ruutu return tonight from various injuries.  The aforementioned players may be available in your league due to extended time on injured reserve.