Gionta Out For Week Eleven

It started out as just being out for Saturday's game against the Devils, but it quickly turned into being out for a week for Canadiens captain Brian Gionta, who is dealing with a lower-body injury at the moment. Gionta was hurt in the 3rd period of the team's game against the Canucks on Thursday and didn't accompany the team to the swamp for their game on Saturday and he'll now remain at home for the rest of Week Eleven.

Gionta is expected to miss Tuesday's game at home to the Islanders, Thursday at home to the Flyers and Saturday's home contest against the Devils.  If there is any more time expected to be missed, that report will likely come down later.

Gionta unofficially ranks in 183rd in pool scoring going into Sunday's action, with 8 goals and 7 assists in 29 games for Montreal, which isn't great production.  Gionta is one of the leaders for the Canadiens, both in the dressing room and on the ice and if he's not putting up better numbers than this, then the Canadiens are likely going to be hunting for one of the last playoff spots all year long.  I don't think it's unfair to expect better numbers from Gionta and when he's out of the line-up, the Habs will have to find someone to adequately fill those numbers, if not improve on them.

Newcomer to the pool this year, Derek W., is not having a great deal of luck to begin his pool career.  For the most part, his skaters have stayed relatively healthy, his goaltending has certainly suffered and it's all a part of the learning curve here.  Derek has now dropped down to 21st in the standings, but is doing enough to tread water at that point, but he isn't getting the puck luck to improve his situation.

At the time of the injury, Derek sits in 21st spot, 7 points back of 19th & 20th and 18 points up on 22nd.