Election Day (Updated)

-I know around this time of year there are a lot of germs getting passed around and everyone gets a cold, snuffles, the flu, etc, but it looks like the injury bug is the one making its way around the NHL during the past few days. Jordan Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Alex Goligoski, Zach Parise, Jacob Josefson and Milan Jurcina have all been bitten.

As mentioned in the last post, Jordan Staal has a broken hand and will be out six more weeks, just as he was looking strong in practice and ready to return. He underwent surgery for it this morning. I feel partly to blame for this cruel irony. Not only did I post last week that he might've been able to return last Friday but I'm going to the Penguins-Lightning game a week from Friday with one of my roommates (a Pens fan who has never been to a game) and the day before he broke his hand, I very excitedly told her that Staal would be back in time for us to see him play. Whoops.

But not all the news is bad, Pens fans. Coach Bylsma said that he believes Malkin (knee), Letang (upper body) and Goligoski (undisclosed), who are all listed as day-to-day, will be able to play against Dallas on Wednesday night. We should also expect to see defenseman Zbynek Michalek in the lineup against the Stars.

-One thing I know I'll be (even more) thankful for this Thanksgiving is that I'm not a New Jersey Devils fan. The current Atlantic Division bottom dwellers are on pace for 44 points this season- 18 less than the Oilers had last year. Ouch. The team is already injury-riddled: Anssi Salmela (torn ACL), Bryce Salvador (concussion) and Matthew Corrente. Add Zach Parise and Jacob Josefson to that list. Parise, the one player the Devils really couldn't afford to lose, has to undergo exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery after being injured Saturday against the Kings and is out indefinitely. To add injury to injury to injury, rookie Jacob Josefson underwent surgery to repair a detached ligament in his hand and is out 6-8 weeks.

UPDATE: It was just announced that after his arthroscopic knee surgery, Zach Parise is going to miss 3 months. Horrible news for the Devils, who are already having trouble scoring goals (and don't have their usual defensive prowess to lean on). It's up to you, Kovy!

-According to PensUniverse, Matt Cooke has replaced Pascal Dupuis as mustache boy this month.

-Danny Briere has been suspended three games for cross checking Frans Nielson of the Islanders. Briere was apparently "shocked" at the suspensions and that it "clearly wasn't a cross check". Whatever you say, Danny.

Although if I were Rick Dipietro I wouldn't have been so eager to get into the scrum, what with the injury bug ready to strike at any moment. A guy who's so injury-prone that he could break a jaw biting into one of the Islanders' new cupcakes shouldn't push his luck. Especially if Chris Pronger gets involved.

-Speaking of the Islanders and the injury bug, Milan Jurcina is out 2-4 weeks with an injured hamstring.

-Brian Campbell returned to the lineup last night for the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks. Too bad they still gave up 3 goals to the Gaborik-less Rangers.

-Those of you who are 18 and older, don't forget to vote today! In the spirit of election day, our friends over at The Pensblog created a survey for their readers. Click here to take the survey. Also, everyone be sure to read their Wilkes-Barre blog. The AHL matters too!