Hockey Night’s Take 5

HNIC’s senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information in the hockey world.

1. Canadian clubs battle flu, public scrutiny

So let’s add another twist to the Flames-Oilers rivalry — H1N1 flu vaccinations. After it was revealed that Calgary players and their families jumped the queue and received shots at an undisclosed clinic last Friday, Edmonton stated its players will stand in line like the rest of Canadians. Ditto for the Senators. Toronto general manager Brian Burke has said all along that the treatment his team may or may not receive is a private matter.

2. One more salvo in Heatley-Sens saga

Ottawa has filed a grievance over Dany Heatley’s(notes) refusal to be traded to Edmonton last June. Heatley’s rejection of the possible trade further delayed his trade demand and as a result the Senators were on the hook for a $4-million signing bonus on July 1. The Senators filed the grievance back in the summer, but the news only broke earlier this week. They claim Heatley, who has a no-movement clause in his contract, should have accepted the trade to the Oilers. He was eventually moved to San Jose in September. No date has been set for a hearing. The only meeting between the Sharks and Senators this season is in San Jose on Dec. 1.

3. Lecavalier has a long way to go

Vincent Lecavalier(notes) banged in a juicy rebound for only his second goal of the season on Tuesday evening with Steve Yzerman and the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey team brass in attendance at the Air Canada Centre for the Lightning’s 2-1 overtime win against Toronto. But unless Lecavalier gets on an incredible roll, he has not done enough to land a spot on the roster for the Vancouver Winter Games. Yzerman and his Canadian Olympic management team will be in Columbus on Wednesday to view the Blue Jackets-Sharks match.

4. Hurricanes play 1st without ironman Staal

It will be a strange feeling for the Hurricanes, when they attempt to snap a horrendous nine-game losing streak in Florida on Wednesday. There will be no No. 12 in their lineup for the first time in 349 regular season games and 43 more playoff contests. Eric Staal(notes) will miss “several” games with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He has missed only one game in his entire career. If the Hurricanes drop a 10th game in a row, the loss will set up an interesting evening on Friday in Raleigh when the 30th-place Leafs visit 29th-place Carolina.

5. Bruins aimless without their wheelman

Boston has gone 3-3-1 since playmaker Marc Savard(notes) went out with his broken foot two weeks ago, but they have been blanked in their past two outings, most recently Tuesday against Detroit. The Bruins are playing without their entire first line from last season. Savard and Milan Lucic(notes) (broken finger) are out and Phil Kessel(notes) is now with the Leafs. That has translated into a lack of scoring punch. They have scored 13 times in Savard’s seven-game absence.