No matter how carefully a National Hockey League general manager constructs his ideal lineup, any team can be sent back to the drawing board when key players go down with injuries.
Just one man can sometimes make or break a team. Earlier in the year, the Boston Bruins fell out of the playoff picture while captain Zdeno Chara was sidelined for 19 games with a knee injury. Since his return in December, the team has clawed its way back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
For a study in contrasts, consider these first-round opponents from the 2014 playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins have maintained their winning record this season even when their lineup has been decimated, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled at every turn and now sit 26th in the NHL standings.
Here's a look at the most significant recent NHL injuries, and how they'll affect each team's playoff outlook.
Begin Slideshow
...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Carol Schram
Current Injuries Having the Biggest Impact in the NHL
February 5th, 2015 by Carol Schram Leave a reply »
Advertisement