NHL Short Notes

VANEK INJURED AGAINST THE RED WINGS

It was far from a perfect Tuesday night for the Buffalo Sabres who beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-2. Buffalo who now have three wins in their first four games suffered a huge blow to their offence when two- time 40- goal scorer Thomas Vanek suffered an upper body injury. This five- year veteran who has three goals this year had a two- goal game against Detroit prior to getting injured. Apparently Vanek fell awkwardly after scoring his second goal late in the second period and had to go to the locker room and didn’t return. Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff termed it an “upper body” injury and said that he could be gone “for months.”

SALO INJURED FOR THE CANUCKS

The injury bug once again has taken a big bite out of the Vancouver Canucks. Days after losing top scorer Daniel Sedin with a broken foot, Vancouver suffered a huge blow on the blue line where veteran Sami Salo is estimated to be out for up to six weeks after spraining his MCL in the right knee on Sunday against the Dallas Stars. This 11- year veteran had one assist in five games this season. Salo who is a power play specialist is the second Canucks blue liner to be sidelined. Veteran Mathieu Schneider who signed with Vancouver as a free agent this summer is still rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

HEATLEY GRABS FIRST STAR HONOURS

San Jose Sharks power forward Dany Heatley was named the NHL’s first star of the opening week on the strength of five goals and eight points in the first three games. During that time San Jose who are the defending President Trophy winners got off to a fast start by winning two of those three games. Heatley who is in his first year as a Shark enjoyed his finest moment of the season last Thursday when he scored a hat trick in a 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.