Injury Woes Continue As Kennedy, Brodeur, Carter Drop

  To add to the growing list of injuries suffered League-wide, more players have fallen with various injuries over the past week.

  Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy was held out of their Monday night game against the Winnipeg Jets with concussion-like symptoms. The news is grim for the organization that is just now beginning to work star forward Sidney Crosby back into the lineup since sustaining a concussion on January 6th.

  Kennedy was a big part in filling the unfillable void of Crosby. Through six games this year Kennedy has registered one goal and two assists. Head coach Dan Bylsma is unsure on the severity, nor the timetable for his return.

  The Penguins’ division rivals, the New Jersey Devils, also are without future hall of famer Martin Brodeur for 7-10 days. Broduer suffered an injury to his right shoulder on a save in Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Thankfully, the injury will not require surgery, but instead some time off.

“Obviously when you’ve got a guy like Marty you want to take a cautious approach and a long-term approach, anyway, that he’s with you for the entire year,” said head coach Peter DeBoer. “He’s been very good, exactly as advertised,” he continued. “He’s a great pro, great person. Someone gave me a stat that he’s 12-2 going back to last year in his last 14 games.”

  In his absence, New Jersey will be leaning on veteran backup Johan Hedberg, who has played solid in the early season having gone 3-0-0 with a 1.41 goals against average and .945 save percentage. Hedberg relieved Broduer after the injury in the game against the Kings, as Hedberg stood tall and helped the Devils to a 2-1 shootout victory.

  Te Columbus Blue Jackets have also lost off-season acquisition Jeff Carter to a foot injury. He is listed as week-to-week, and been placed on injured reserve with a hairline fracture to his foot. Carter has a past with foot injury, as he had his foot surgically repaired in April, 2010, and missed eleven playoff games.

  Carter’s entry to the team was hopeful of giving star forward and captain Rick Nash someone to play with, but this far the Blue Jackets have continued to struggle.

 Head coach Scott Arniel is hopeful his forward can return soon, after being believed to sustain the injury in training camp, and re-injuring it on a blocked shot against the Dallas Stars.

  Young center Derick Brassard will step up to the top-line on center in the mean time.

“I just need to try and find my two wingers,” Brassard said. “We need to work hard and we’ll make some space in the offensive zone. We have to win some battles, and if I have a chance to shoot the puck, I will. And if I have a chance to get it to Rick, obviously I’m going to find him."

“We needed to try something else and this is a good challenge for me.”

  Carter has picked up three assists in five games with the Blue Jackets, while Brassard has one goal in six contests.

- Kendall Grubbs