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Puck Headlines: Alfredsson back; injury update for Wings, Pens, Caps

Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• You know, usually when you open your eyes after taking a big hit and the first thing you see is a small girl holding a large platter of lobsters, it's straight to the Quiet Room. [Getty, at the World Junior A Challenge in B.C.]

• Stick-tap and a helmet nod to all those who serve and have served. [Y! Sports]

• Daniel Alfredsson will return on 11-11-11 for the Ottawa Senators, which could give their offense the boost it needs. But is he rushing back? From Silver Seven: "Waiting it out isn't in Alfredsson's DNA. He's usually back in the lineup as soon as he can be, regardless of whether or not he should be. He's seen his team go 0-4 since he left the lineup, three of them by just one goal in that time. That's a difference Alfredsson, when he's playing his best, can make up for. Plus it's 11-11-11, which is too cool a storyline to pass up." [Silver Sevens]

• Jhonas Enroth gets the start for the Buffalo Sabres against the Ottawa Senators. Is this a commentary on Ryan Miller's play, even in a victory last game? Perhaps. But the numbers vs. the Senators have a lot to do with it, too. And so does the fact they play Boston on Saturday. Speaking of which … [Buffalo News]

• Boston Bruins' Daniel Paille and Andrew Ference are both expected out against Buffalo on Saturday. [Bruins Blog]

• Tyler Kennedy is out and Eric Tangradi is in for the Pittsburgh Penguins on James Neal Appreciation Night* against the Dallas Stars. (*may not be the official title.) [Empty Netters]

• Henrik Zetterberg might miss the Detroit Red Wings' game against the Edmonton Oilers with a "middle body injury." Well that's specific. [Freep]

• Meanwhile, it's Episode 3 of Fake Henrik Zetterberg! [FHZ]

• Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green is expected back against the New Jersey Devils tonight. [Capitals Insider]

• Ilya Kovalchuk has a "lingering" lower body injury that apparently isn't just his being weighed down by expectations and his wallet. [ESPN NY]

• Scott Gomez is back for the Montreal Canadiens … on the fourth line. Peter Budaj to start against the Predators. [Pat Hickey]

• What's really eating Eric Staal? (Hint: Not his brother's injury.) [RLD]

• In which Sidney Crosby becomes the face of white bread in Canada. [Dempster's]

• Why Rick Nash needs to beg out of the Columbus Blue Jackets mess. [Proteau]

The 7 subjects Steve Lepore wants the new 'NHL Films' division to tackle. [Puck The Media]

• Theo Fleury speaks out on the Penn State scandal: "For many, many years, such as Penn State, such as the Catholic Church, such as the Boy Scouts of Canada, we have either tried to cover it up or we've completely shut up, we just don't talk about it. I really believe we've just opened up the Pandora's box here. I always say more will be revealed." [WEEI]

• Niklas Hagman is sent down to the AHL. Hey, didn't he play for the Leafs? Wonder how he ended up in Calgary … [Flames]

• Meet Matt Kassian, hockey player and Twitter superstar. Kassian on movies: "They're all about love, whether it's loving a girl or loving a gun. Loving money or loving cars. They're all romantic comedies, one way or the other." [Hairballs]

• Seann William Scott on the "Goon" poster. We'll have much more on this flick as its Feb. release draws closer. [Hollywood.com]

• The Flyers are taking too many dang penalties. [The Checking Line]

• The top 10 spin-o-ramas of all-time. Or at least the time during which there is available video. [Backhand Shelf]

• Michael Farber sings the praises of Tony Granato and Elliotte Friedman in his annual stealth list. [SI]

• Kevin Schultz, the new man over at Point Blank, on the New York Islanders buying a Nabokov trade rumor (that, in full disclosure, we re-tweeted last night): "The post-game was just as erroneous and bizarre for the Long Island crew on the ice as it was in the broadcast booth and on Twitter. An eager twitterer started a rumor of a potential trade which was retweeted by the team's beat writer and then quoted on the MSG post-game broadcast. The broadcast team had Jiggs McDonald cite the two persons above on air at the conclusion of the game. After the ensuing commercial break and on the internet, there was an awkward back pedaling from all parties involved. Hard to believe where folks so close to the team are getting their info." [NYI Point Blank]

• Singing the praises of New York Islanders prospect Ryan Strome as "Tavares-like." [Buzzing The Net]

• Craig Smith vs. the NHL Rookies. It's like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World but with 100% less Clash at Demonhead. Which is sad, really. [On The Forecheck]

• "Stop me if you've heard this one: Enter, Ken Hitchcock. Exit, Russian player. It sounds like a story we've heard before, doesn't it?" [St. Louis Game Time]

• Braydon Coburn has a modified no-trade clause in his new 4-year deal. Which is important because the Flyers never look to get around those. [Philly.com]

• Doug Gilmour has no regrets. Not even playing for the Habs? [Toronto Star]

• Why Mark Howe deserved his Hall of Fame selection. [Y! CN]

• Did the Winnipeg Jets forget that this season is a mulligan that should result in a top draft pick? [Globe & Mail]

• RIP Patrick Steel, an Alberta Juniors player who died in his sleep on Nov. 9. [CTV]

• Finally, this bit of hilarity from Leahy: "Players snaps twig on breakaway. Goalie pokechecks puck into own defenseman. Puck goes in net."