This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Columbus Blue Jackets fans finally have something to be happy about. After the bloom came off the expansion rose, they've basically had nothing going for them. However, last year, not only did they make the playoffs for the second time ever, but they actually won a game. They are hosting this year's All-Star Game, and they actually have a couple of players that will deserve to play in it (at least on talent) with Sergei Bobrovsky and Ryan Johansen. So, there is reason to be enthusiastic about hockey in the Buckeye State, and it is time to give them a gift to keep the good vibes flowing.
In their short life, the Jackets have had, approximately, a million different looks. They've busted out different jerseys and logos and color schemes, and they do have a pretty solid look now. However, there's always more a team can do to sell jerseys and apparel, or at least to generate interest. That's why the Jackets need to don Cleveland Barons uniforms.
You may remember the Barons, but there is no shame if you don't. The California Golden Seals, one of the six original expansion teams in the NHL, moved to Cleveland after they didn't pan out in Oakland and became the Barons. The Barons lasted two seasons, 1976-1977 and 1977-1978, before being straight disbanded. They were the last team of the four major American sports to cease operations.
Columbus should show some love to their Ohio forefathers. The Barons have pretty good uniforms, retro sports stuff tends to do well, and trotting out a reference to the Cleveland Barons will get you street cred with the indie crowd. The Blue Jackets gave their fans a playoff win, and now they need to give them some Cleveland Barons action, if only for one night.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) at Senators (Craig Anderson) 7:00
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury) 8:00
Capitals (Braden Holtby) at Oilers (Ben Scrivens) 9:30
Sabres (Jhonas Enroth) at Ducks (Frederik Andersen) 10:30
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Maple Leafs
David Booth, LW (foot) – Expected to take at least six weeks to recover from broken foot as of October 15.
Brandon Kozun, RW (ankle) – Expected to miss 18-20 games with high ankle sprain.
Senators
Marc Methot, D (back) – Skated Monday, but has no time table for return.
Flyers
Braydon Coburn, D (lower-body) – Was expected to play Tuesday, but didn't.
Vincent Lecavalier, C (foot) – Expected to miss two weeks as of October 13.
Kimmo Timonen, D (blood clots) – Likely to miss entire season.
Ryan White, RW (chest) – Expected to miss five months as of September 26.
Penguins
Beau Bennett, RW (leg) – Not close to returning according to head coach Mike Johnston.
Robert Bortuzzo, D (upper-body) – Skated Monday, may return soon.
Capitals
Brooks Laich, C (upper-body) – Expected to be placed on injured reserve.
Dmitry Orlov, D (wrist) – Placed on long-term injured reserve on October 7.
Aaron Volpatti, LW (neck) – Placed on long-term injured reserve October 7.
Oilers
Viktor Fasth, G (groin) – No timetable for his return.
Luke Gazdic, LW (shoulder) – A couple weeks away from returning.
Sabres
Matt Hackett, G (knee) – Not expected back until around Christmas.
Patrick Kaleta, RW (face) – Started skating recently, but has no return date set.
Ducks
Bryan Allen, D (lower-body) – Practiced Monday, but intends to be cautious about his return.
Dany Heatley, LW (groin) – Making progress, but has not played this season.
Patrick Maroon, LW (knee) – On injured reserve, will not return until mid-November at the earliest.
Kyle Palmieri, RW (ankle) – No timetable for his return.
Sheldon Souray, D (wrist) – May not play this season.
Hot
Taylor Hall, LW, EDM – Hall has proven himself as a goal scorer and point producer by this point, and also as a guy who has trouble staying healthy. Well, he's on the ice now, and in his last three games he has five points from three goals and two assists. He's averaging about four shots per game so far too. While Hall is healthy, you've got to squeeze every bit of fantasy value out of him, especially while he's playing well.
Mike Ribeiro, C, NSH – Ribeiro gave his most recent former team, the Arizona Coyotes, a rude welcoming gift, by scoring a goal and an assist against them on Tuesday. That makes four games in a row with a point for Ribeiro, although this is his first multi-point game of the season. While many a grievance has been aired about Ribeiro, nobody has ever questioned his talent, and maybe Nashville will be good for him.
Cold
David Perron, LW, EDM – While Hall has been good recently, Perron has been on the flip side of things. After picking up three assists in his first two games, Perron has been held to zero points in his last four games. Additionally, he is a minus-7 in those games, and minus-8 in total. Perron should eventually start scoring, but he's not right now, and playing for an Oilers team with defensive questions is not going to help his plus/minus.
Marek Zidlicky, D, NJD – Zidlicky enjoyed a bounce back season last year, scoring 12 goals and 42 points, while also contributing in a variety of other categories, all of which are an added bonus when you are talking about a defenseman. Right now, though, Zidlicky is on a four game pointless streak, and he is a minus-1 on all four of those games. He also hasn't picked up a penalty minute yet this year, and there is always the potential that Zidlicky reverts to his form from a few years ago, when it seemed like his best was behind him.
Recommended Pickup
Mason Raymond, LW, CGY – Many moons ago, Raymond scored 25 goals for the Vancouver Canucks as a young whippersnapper. However, his career really tailed off after that, at least in Vancouver. Last season, he had a bit of a comeback, scoring 19 goals and 45 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but now he's with the Calgary Flames, and he's off to a hot start. He scored a hat trick early, and he has recently added a few more points in recent games. Somebody has to score the Flames, and Mike Cammalleri isn't around anymore. Raymond is still only 29, so it is not out of question that he will get back over the 20 goal and 50 point thresholds.
