After a great start to the season, things have gone sour in Edmonton. The Oilers announced that they placed starting goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on the injured reserve because he is suffering from a groin injury. They need two goalies, though, so they called up veteran goalie Martin Gerber from the minors.
It’s unclear how long Khabibulin will be on the mend, but groin injuries can often take a long time to heal.
Perhaps the Oilers won’t miss the star-crossed Russian that much, though. He’s had his fair share of high moments, but lately he’s been awful. In the last four games, Khabibulin allowed 22 goals and was pulled from two of those contests. His overall record (4-10-1), 87.9 save percentage and 4.07 GAA fall well short of what one would expect from a highly paid goalie.
Edmonton now must rely on Gerber and Devan Dubnyk in net. You really never know in a league in which goalies seem to sprout up out of nowhere, but my guess is that the Oilers will find themselves with yet another lottery pick once this season is over.
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Canucks coach addresses playoff letdown, Ryan Kesler’s struggles, and the goaltending situation
May 24, 2012, 1:03 PM EDT
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“We weren’t able to get in that state of mental awareness that you need to have.”
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Kings’ Penner on fan reaction at LAX: “It was like driving down a hallway lined with human flesh”
May 24, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT
“You couldn’t see anything except people screaming and Kings jerseys.”
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He’s set to become a UFA on July 1.
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That’s the latest rumor.
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Steve Yzerman is really working the European circuit this offsesason
May 24, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
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Reports say he’s interested in Swiss league sniper Damien Brunner.
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Gretzky impressed by Kings: “They’re a much better team than we were in ’93″
May 24, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
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No. 99 says what L.A. has accomplished thus far is “unreal.”
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There’s winter in Los Angeles now?
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Neuvirth wants Washington’s starting gig: “I will do whatever it takes to be the man”
May 24, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT
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In a related story, Braden Holtby now sleeps with one eye open.
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It’s Giroux vs. Malkin, Tavares vs. Rinne in EA NHL 13 Cover Vote
May 24, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT
Philly vs. Pittsburgh rivalry highlights the semifinals.
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He has seven goals in 17 playoff games.
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Los Angeles will have to defy history one more time to win it all.
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SportsBusiness Journal calls Bruins the “Sports Team of the Year”
May 24, 2012, 8:57 AM EDT
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The criteria for the award are “excellence, growth, creativity, innovation, sound planning, implementation and outcomes.”
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New Jersey is one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals.
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Kings will face one of biggest free agent targets in Stanley Cup finals
May 24, 2012, 8:00 AM EDT
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Los Angeles went hard after Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010 and Brad Richards in 2011.
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PHT Morning Skate: Where we wonder if Mike Smith is for real
May 24, 2012, 7:30 AM EDT
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Thursday’s collection of links.
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More Torts: “We’ve been through it before.”
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Brodeur on “Marty” chant: “That was great. If I come back for Game 7, I hope they do better”
May 23, 2012, 11:33 PM EDT
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Embracing the heckle.
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Do you agree?
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Another misadventure in puckhandling.
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The Rangers actually played well, too.
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