We’ll start with the really good news from today’s practice, as reported by the Dispatch’s Shawn Mitchell: Nick Foligno’s x-rays showed no structural damage to his neck, and while he’s sore, he’s not suffering any other effects from the “stinger”. He’s having an MRI done today, and if cleared to play, he would like to get back into the lineup for tomorrow’s game against Ottawa.
Update: Fox Sports Ohio’s Rick Gethin has posted video of Foligno answering questions about yesterday, and his hopes to get back to business.
The news about Matt Calvert, on the other hand, isn’t as positive – after leaving the warmup yesterday and being ruled out of the game vs. LA, the club has announced that they are putting the energetic forward on the IR retroactive to last Friday with an upper body injury. He is expected to miss around a week, so it’s possible he might be ready to go against Toronto on the 31st, but just as likely that he may not make an appearance until the following game in New Jersey, or perhaps even next Tuesday’s game against Carolina.
Another player injured in that game, Cam Atkinson, took the practice today and looks to be back to normal. He also told the media that he plans to play against Ottawa, so that will give the team a little of their firepower back. Also returning to the lineup will be Alexander Wennberg, who was “recalled” back to the club. (Technically, he never actually left, but what’s a little paper shuffling between friends?)
The last major piece of news coming out of today’s skate is that Boone Jenner joined several teammates, skating, shooting, and stickhandling. He went under the knife for his broken hand back on October 1st, and was likely to miss six weeks. If he’s coming along a little ahead of schedule, that’s a huge boost to the lineup on and off the ice.
It couldn’t come at a better time.