Player Notes in the Draft (Nov 8)

Sounds like Cam Fowler took the worst of his own hit, as he tried to lay a hip into Arizona's Martin Erat on Friday night. Fowler left the game in the 3rd period with a lower-body injury, not to return and the coaching staff was only able to point out that the defender had the injury and that he was day-to-day, nothing else.  We'll likely have to take that for what it's worth and we'll see if Fowler is active for Sunday's game, hosting the Canucks.

Wilton has seen some reasonable numbers from Fowler to start the year, 9 points in 15 games, but that hasn't been enough to help make up for some of his lesser players, as Wilton will go into Saturday in 16th place, 8 points out of the top 10, 21 points out of the money.

On the plus side for Anaheim, they were able to welcome back one of their superstars from illness, as Ryan Getzlaf was able to play against the Coyotes, scoring a goal in his return. Corey Perry wasn't so lucky, as he missed his second game with the illness, but Perry might be ready to go on Sunday.

The return of Getzlaf was key for Cam, who was able to keep pace in 4th place in the standings, but has lost a couple of points on the pace to 3rd place in the week.  Cam is in the thick of the race, which has been good for the pool newcomer and the return of his best player was clutch to start the weekend.

The morning skate has been a little bit more hazardous to the hockey pool this season, more so than seasons before, as we've seen a few players get hurt before game time.  Pavel Datsyuk joins the ranks of those players, as he hurt his groin on Friday morning, leading up to the game against the Devils and he was unable to dress for the game.  Datsyuk is considered to be day-to-day at the moment and will be questionable for the Wings' next game, home to Tampa Bay on Sunday evening.

Benson was able to move out of the basement again on Friday night, despite not having Datsyuk active on Friday night.  Benson sits 1 point out of the bottom, going into Friday, but his team is reeling at the moment.  Datsyuk has been a bright spot (10 points in eight games), but just hasn't been healthy enough this season.

The Washington Capitals were able to welcome forward Brooks Laich back to the line-up after he missed seven games with an injury, but the non-pool player had to take someone's spot and that someone was rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov, who hasn't exactly dazzled in the early part of this season.  The Capitals were able to defeat the Blackhawks on Friday night, so it will be interesting to find out whether or not Kuznetsov figures back into the line-up, Saturday, at home to Carolina.

Another body out of active play for Benson on Friday night, so it becomes even more amazing that his team was able to move out of the pool basement.  Nevertheless, his team is still in the lead for the weekly Basement Dweller nod in the Newsletter, having only 6 points in the week, which would remarkably be his first nod of the season, despite being so low in the table.

An updated list of injuries can be found here.