Wednesday afternoon notes: Injury bug devastating NHL teams

This afternoon's hockey notes bring fresh news on what is becoming a tiring issue in the NHL - injuries, particularly concussions. We have two star players in Carolina who are now out with concussions, and other key forwards out of the lineup with a variety of bumps & bruises. Meanwhile, the league decides not to hand out a suspension to Winnipeg Jets defenseman Zack Bogosian for a hit which broke the nose of Minnesota's Pierre-Marc Bounchard. Was that the right call?

Just follow after the jump for the scoop...

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Nashville Predators News

Smashville 24/7: Crisp excited to be a part of Winter Classic alumni game
Terry Crisp will be an assistant coach at the 2012 Winter Classic - isn't it nice to finally have a Preds connection to the game?

Hockey Hugs: Jagr love, Kiss Huggins, Tootoo’s emotional wall - Puck Daddy
Jordin Tootoo makes the grade in the latest installment of this series.

Paul McCann - Three Straight and Tonight's SlapShot Radio
Paul sets up tonight's radio show, which will lead into the Jordin Tootoo show this evening.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Jeff Skinner, Joni Pitkanen Out Indefinitely With Concussions - Canes Country
Add two more premier players to the concussion list (and here's a pretty full one for reference)... just a brutal blow to a Carolina team that's already struggling.

The hits keep rolling: Leino out weeks - Sabres Edge - The Buffalo News
Well, at least this isn't a concussion, it's a lower-body issue here for the Sabres forward.

Lombardi getting closer to returning - thestar.com
Remember these headlines from last season? Matthew Lombardi is still out with that shoulder injury for Toronto.

Bouchard has broken nose; Cullen, Zidlicky to return?; Laughing Yeo tired of Heatley being booed | StarTribune.com
After getting blasted into the boards by Winnipeg's Zach Bogosian, Pierre-Marc Bouchard may well play tonight. There's no supplemental discipline being handed down to Bogosian for the hit, which in my opinion was the right call. Bouchard's spin at the last second put him in a dangerous position.

The Quiet Room: The Week of Weird Injuries - Backhand Shelf
Standard hockey injuries are enough of a problem, before you get into some of this wacky stuff.

Hockey on Television Hits an Intriguing High With 24/7, NHL 36 Premieres Tonight " Puck The Media
For the lone hockey media blogger out there, tonight's a huge night.

Credit to Steve Mason - The Cannon
Last night's Columbus win over Vancouver came in large part due to Steve Mason's goaltending, a welcome sight for Blue Jackets fans.

Winnipeg's male hockey fans lobby for return of urinal trough to cut lineups - Winnipeg Free Press
Um, wow.

The Malik Report : Red Wings no-practice day news: On Conner, Howard and Fake Henrik
A host of Red Wings updates for you ahead of tomorrow night's game against the Predators.

Boudreau still getting used to new life on West Coast - NHL.com
Dan Rosen checks in on how Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau is adjusting to his shift to the Western Conference.

So how is the new coach doing? - NHL.com
Of the five teams which have fired their bench boss, only the St. Louis Blues have seen a dramatic improvement so far.

The Hockey News: THN.com Top 10: Underachieving players
You have to wonder if Adam Proteau watches much Western Conference hockey.

Center Stage: The elite point-per-game players - NHL.com
...as opposed to those crappy point-per-game players.

Canada Names Final 2012 WJC Roster - Puck Worlds
Big news north of the border, as Team Canada readies for the World Junior Championships coming up in Buffalo.

Blackhawks’ Dave Bolland and his tired Sedin Sisters act - Puck Daddy
Yeah, this stuff is lame, and after a little contemplation, the fairy stuff isn't so hot, either.

And lastly, as found at Puck Daddy... this might be the most beautiful sheet of ice I've ever seen: