The latest news concerns goalie Antero Niittymaki. According to Holmgren, Niittymaki suffered a groin injury in the shootout loss in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The injury was not disclosed right away and he did not leave the game, playing injured in the overtime and shootout.
But he is doubtful for tomorrow night in Washington and the team will not say anything more before today at the earliest. Scott Munroe will be called up from the Phantoms to take Niittymaki's place on the bench, but for how long no one knows.
"The fact that he stayed in the game, played the overtime and participated in the shootout should mean that it's not that serious," Holmgren said. "I just hope it's not his hip."
Niittymaki has had problems with labrum tears in both hips and sat out training camp while recovering from surgery to his left hip. He previously had surgeries on both sides.
Rookie Claude Giroux likely will be out for Washington and maybe longer, depending on the severity of the concussion he suffered when Corey Perry elbowed him in the side of the head in Anaheim. The league suspended Perry for four games as a result of the blatant headshot.
Darroll Powe, with an unspecified lower body injury, played in Los Angeles, but did not feel good and will be re-evaluated. Scott Hartnell is playing with a broken, black and swollen big toe, and Timonen is playing with a chip fracture in his right ankle; both those injuries were sustained in Chicago.
Simon Gagne is still uncertain for Washington. He suffered a left shoulder injury in Vancouver and is day-to-day.
"He's getting better," Holmgren said. "We're hopeful that he'll play [tomorrow]. He had an MRI that showed that there wasn't a tear so he's healing."
