The Daily Puck: Hot Devil

Projected Goalie Starters
Minnesota (Nicklas Backstrom) at Carolina (Cam Ward) 12:00 PM.
San Jose (Antti Niemi) at Columbus (Steve Mason) 3:00 PM.
Dallas (Kari Lehtonen) at New Jersey (Martin Brodeur) 7:00 PM.
Anaheim (Jonas Hiller) at Detroit (Jimmy Howard) 7:30 PM.
Buffalo (Ryan Miller) at Ottawa (Pascal Leclaire) 7:30 PM.
Washington (Michal Neuvirth) at Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec) 7:30 PM.

Injuries for Teams Playing Friday

Day-to-Day (Includes DL players close to returning)
Marek Zidlicky (D) Minnesota – (Groin) Missed Thursday's game. Game time decision for Friday.
Jamal Mayers (W) San Jose - (Arm) Likely out for Friday's game.
Brenden Morrow (W) Dallas – (Back) Hasn't practiced all week, but is expected to play Friday.
Loui Eriksson (W) Dallas – (Hip) Skating with the team, should play Friday.
Anton Volchenkov (D) New Jersey (Foot) Blocked a shot, should be ready to go Friday.
Matt Beleskey (W) Anaheim – (Groin) Hasn't practiced all week, questionable to play Friday.
Todd Bertuzzi (W) Detroit – (Back) Has only been skating on his own this week.
Thomas Vanek (W) Buffalo – (Head) Good to go for Friday.
Milan Michalek (W) Ottawa – (Knee) Had off-season knee surgery, probably to play Friday.
Jason Spezza (C) Ottawa – (Groin) Game time decision for Friday.
Mike Fisher (C) Ottawa – (Neck) Skated on Wednesday, should play Friday.

Long Term or IR
Pierre-Marc Bouchard (W) Minnesota – (Concussion) As with all head injuries this could take some time. Traveled with the team to Europe, could return by month's end.
Josh Harding (G) Minnesota – (ACL) Out a minimum of 3-4 months
Sergei Samsonov (W) Carolina – (Neck) – Did not travel to Europe. Out at least the first two games.
Joffrey Lupul (W) Anaheim – (Blood Infection) – Best case scenario is a return to action in November.
Semyon Varlamov (G) Washington (Undisclosed) – Even though he is on IR, he could return at any moment, but won't play Friday.

Transactions
Joffrey Lupul (W) Anaheim – Placed on IR
Todd White (C) Rangers - Passed through waivers, will begin the season in New York
Michael Leighton (G) Philadelphia - Placed on IR
Semyon Varlamov (G) Washington – Placed on IR

Hot

Travis Zajac (C) New Jersey- Hard not to score points when Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise are flanking you.

Recommended Pickups

Valtteri Filppula (C) Detroit – Finally coming into his own and playing on a line with Johan Franzen. If and when the Wings move Jiri Hudler up to his line, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Alex Frolov (W) Rangers – Needs to rehabilitate his image after being in the coach's doghouse with the Kings last season. A big season for the Rangers could garner him that big multi-year deal he is looking for.

Magnus Paajarvi (W) Edmonton – If you're looking to hedge your bets on an early Calder Trophy candidate, don't forget Paajarvi. He has the speed and talent to put up impressive numbers for Edmonton, and with the lack of goal scoring that the Oilers possess, he'll get plenty of ice time to prove his worth.