Although Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler won’t play tonight in Game Two of their first round series against Calgary, head coach Randy Carlyle suggested to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register that Fowler could be ready to return by the end of the round. The blueliner was evaluated again on Thursday and the team is hopeful that he’ll be able to start skating again in the coming days.
Fowler has been out since April 4th when he took a knee-on-knee hit from Flames defender Mark Giordano. At the time, there was a wide timeframe for a potential return, ranging from two to six weeks. We’re not even at the two week mark so presumably he’s still a little while away and wouldn’t have a shot at getting back in until closer to the end of the series.
Other injury notes from around the league:
- Flyers goalie prospect Anthony Stolarz will miss the entire AHL playoffs and will be sidelined for the next three to four months, head coach Scott Gordon told Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer. While the exact nature of the injury was undisclosed, Carchidi notes that the netminder was seen on crutches following Wednesday’s game. Stolarz is likely to get a long look at training camp to be the backup goaltender for Michal Neuvirth next season assuming that Philadelphia doesn’t bring anyone else in via free agency or the trade market this summer. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for camp.
- Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki suffered a lower body injury this afternoon, the team announced via Twitter. He did not return to the game. The injury was sustained on an attempted body check on Bruins forward Riley Nash. If he’s unable to return in time for their next game on Monday, Frederik Claesson will likely take his place in the lineup. Claesson was scratched when Marc Methot was deemed ready to play today.
- The Wild announced that they have activated defenseman Victor Bartley off injured reserve. Bartley signed with Minnesota as a free agent this summer but suffered a triceps injury in the preseason that kept him out for the entire year. While it’s unlikely that Bartley would immediately step into Minnesota’s lineup, he will at least give them another option to turn to if they do decide to make a change later on. The Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa wraps up their season tonight and won’t be in the playoffs which eliminates the possibility of a conditioning stint.