OK, heres your scorecard of Whos Staying and Whos Going with the Panthers on this one-game road trip to Carolina, the first of a home-and-home weekend set:
Staying: defensemen Mike Weaver and Ed Jovanvoski.
Weaver went down early in Thursdays shootout loss to Buffalo. The vague lower-body injury was used, but Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said Friday that Weaver didnt blow out a knee.
Still, he doesnt expect Weaver back soon. Thats 19:48 of ice time to replace. Rookie Colby Robak will dress this weekend.
It means a huge deal, Dineen said [Weavers] one of those incredible character guys who is all about the team. Hes got a demeanor about him that everybody enjoys being around him.
As for Jovanovskis knee injury, now a month old, Dineen said, I dont have a timetable for his return. We wont see him in the next week.
Going: Wingers Kris Versteeg and Scottie Upshall. Each has played only seven games this season, the latter because of an ankle injury.
Staying (Home) and Going (from the Panthers): 40-year-old forward Alex Kovalev, a healthy scratch four of the past five games, will stay home. Dineen said Kovalevs examining his options and said the Panthers should have something to announce in two days.
Feel free to read that as Kovalev being bought out.
Coming? Rookie goalie Jacob Markstrom is back in San Antonio after a week with the Panthers. In two games, Markstrom put up a .915 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average, better numbers in both categories than Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen. In fact, neither veteran Panthers goalie can say his save percentage crests even .900, the minimum for even hoping to claim mediocrity in modern goaltending.
Clemmensen got the hook Thursday night against Buffalo. Theodore came on in relief, just as Clemmensen did for Theodore against Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
You could answer that yourself, Theodore said when asked for self-analysis of his play. Were dead last in goals against, so its easy to say.
As for Markstrom getting recalled, Dineen said, Every day thats an option I consider.
Rookie of month
Center Jonathan Huberdeau was named NHL Rookie of the Month for February after recording six goals and three assists in 13 games. Huberdeaus eight goals lead all rookies, and his 13 points are second behind Tampa Bays Cory Conacher.
Huberdeaus linemate, fellow rookie and comic partner Drew Shore, ranks seventh with 10 points and was third in the award voting.
Great linemates! Linemates! Shore shouted at a laughing Huberdeau as the latter faced the media.
Huberdeau said that compared to earlier in the season, Now, Im trying to keep the puck more.
Before, I was trying to get rid of it too much because I was scared to keep the puck and make a mistake.



















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