Down Goes Hossa, Shooting Stars, Plus A Late Wings Update
Well, that didn't take long ... Marian Hossa's out with a knee injury already. Meanwhile, pretty fair debut for Brad Richards with Dallas - FIVE assists.
Sorry for the late post-practice post -- fatherly duties called after I finished writing for the paper.
The nuts and bolts: Hasek will start Friday night in net and says he's ready for a big workload the last 6 weeks (wants to play twice a week, he says.) Stuart practiced (he'll wear No. 23) and will play alongside Kronwall as the first D pairing vs. San Jose Fri night. Surprise appearance by Chelios, who originally was just going to skate but went ahead and practiced, too. Rafalski skated but didn't go through the drills, so still a ways away. Quincey getting sent back down to G.R. And everyone's still raving about Meech, who I think has leapfrogged Lebda and Lilja in the lineup. But we'll just have to wait and see on that.
Cleary also was back and elated to be with his teammates -- "I had butterflies driving down to the rink today," he said. He plans to skate Sunday -- he'll travel with the team to Buffalo -- or Monday, though it'll be another month till he's able to play in a game. (Last 3-4 games of the reg. season is still the target.) And he says he's lost 15 pounds. Broken jaw is no longer completely wired shut, but he's still on soft foods -- lots of soup and pasta.
