Vancouver Canucks’ Manny Malhotra’s return in Game 1 against Boston Bruins doubtful –NHL Update
Unlike previously expected, Manny Malhotra, Vancouver Canucks’ valuable centre, will most probably miss the upcoming Game 1 of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Finals against Boston Bruins on Wednesday, June 1st.
Last weekend, rumours spread about Malhotra being cleared to participate in Game 1 and even contributing during Canucks’ practice session on Monday at the Rogers Arena, but Vancouver’s General Manager, Mike Gillis, confirmed him not playing and also absent
from Tuesday’s practice session which undermines his chances of a quick comeback.
"This has been a day-to-day thing all along", Gillis said. "Today was a day where they felt it would be best if he stayed away. He'll be back around the team (Wednesday), we anticipate. We have to be really patient with this. We have to rein him in a little
bit, because he's very enthusiastic".
Malhotra provides the team with his special ability that has him better known as a faceoff and defensive specialist.
When he was injured back during the regular season game against Colorado Avalanche after taking a puck to his eye in March, Malhotra was ranked second in the NHL for faceoff wins (61.7 percent) and had been a big contributor in making Vancouver the team
with the best penalty-kill percentage.
Canucks is on its first playoff stretch since 1994 and has high hopes of winning the Stanley Cup which will be the first in its 40-year history as a NHL team.
Even if Malhotra is unable to return in the opening game which Vancouver will be hosting at the Rogers Arena, he is likely to play at some time in the series that should be highly anticipated by Vancouver fans, frantic to win the Stanley Cup and end Canada’s
18-year trophy drought.
Alexandre Bolduc, Victor Oreskovich and Jeff Tambellini have been recalled from Canucks’ farm league team, Manitoba Moose, to play for the fourth line and are expected to play well, having played two playoff games earlier.
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