Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Update on the Czar

As reported below by Big Shooter (via Vivlamore), Kovalchuk participated in full practice today. After seeing Viv's twitter update, I saddled up and headed to Duluth to see the Czar's progress with my own eyes and report it to you.

Kovy appeared to be skating perfectly normally and participated in all the drills I watched. The couple of caveats were that in a drill in which a forward and defenseman battled along the boards, Popovic conspicuously laid off Kovy while others battled in earnest. In maneuvering however, Kovalchuk didn't seem to favor either foot. On one stop (on the right foot) I thought I noticed him stutter step away, but that could have been my imagination. He later skated around gliding on the bad foot and continued to make turns and stops on it with no apparent problem.

Ben Wright has updated his Twitter page with a note that Coach Anderson is 95% sure the Czar will be in the lineup with the Thrashers take to the ice in Madison Square Garden Thursday night.

Obviously getting Kovalchuk back this quickly (and posting a 3-3 record without him) is a big boost to the team. The Rangers' biggest star, Henrik Lundqvist, is questionable for Thursday night, so the team has an opportunity for a big morale boost.

The one bit of bad news from practice is that Evander Kane was nowhere to be seen. Chris Vivlamore informed me that someone posted a comment on his site that they thought Evander took a puck off the foot and came up injured Sunday.

13 comments:

Mortimer Peacock said...

The planets have aligned for the Chronicle's reportage record in a special way this November the 10th.

FrenchCatalogues said...

I am curious about Kane. I wonder what will happpen with that.

Mortimer Peacock said...

Yes, losing Kane is a problem.

j_barty_party said...

Uh yeah, that "Smoothie" character is me...he saw it with his own two eyes I tell ya! I don't remember what period (pretty sure 'twas the early part of the 3rd) thanks to the frenzied "monkey puck" curse-reverse celebration which summarily ensued after OMGIRH doth fell the savage Conklin beast with his mighty puck o' vengeance!!

FrenchCatalogues said...

Kane took a shot off the foot Sunday and was having it examined today. Anderson didn't seemn very concerned about it. Appears minor.

via Ben

There you have it

FrenchCatalogues said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mortimer Peacock said...

OK, so we've established everyone knows exactly what happened to Evander Kane.

FrenchCatalogues said...

I heard that a giant bird picked him up and adopted him as her own. He is currently dealing with the situation

j_barty_party said...

http://thrashingbirds.blogspot.com/

Just wanted the esteemed staff of the best blog on "the technology" to be aware of my newest time-wasting endeavor where I have given you top billing on my list of blogs...please stop by and help me christen (or disgrace if you prefer) my new home for useless musings and bombastic prose.

Thank you so much!! (said in my best Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson voice)

Mortimer Peacock said...

Good lord, the kids these days and their blogs.

The Speaker is recognized and blogrolled.

j_barty_party said...

Wow! I'm not worthy!

Thanks for the linkage and taking the time to grace my blog with your presence. I can only dream to achieve the lofty status as what you have achieved with your blog.

Actually, I'm just looking for another excuse to piss away time.

Big Shooter said...

All you Government employees are the same.

GoPuckYourself said...

Methinks Kaner just wanted the day off to play Modern Warfare 2 and stay the hell out of the rain like the rest of humanity.