Update (12:19 PM): Ansar Khan reports that Kris Draper missed practice because he was at the hospital with his wife, who is “scheduled to deliver the couple’s third child today.” - Matt
Bruce MacLeod reports that Andreas Lilja remains a part of the third pairing with Brett Lebda. So, it looks like Chris Chelios’ leg is still bothering him.
Also, Kris Draper and Valtteri Filppula did not skate today. Filppula has not practiced in a week. Not sure why Draper is out. Mark Hartigan filled in for Fil on the second line and Justin Abdelkader filled in on the third for Draper. Other than those subs, the lineup remains as it was in Game 6 of the WCF.
Matt, I love how the quotes make it look like you’re suspicious that that’s what Draper’s wife was actually doing, haha.
Also, I don’t know if I’d rather see Chelios or Lilja at this point. Lilja has a history of boneheaded plays, but the way Chelios has been playing lately….
Ian,
It read like it was an induced labor, but I didn’t want to assume.
I’m with you on the Lilja/Chelios question. I think both players bring positives to the table, but they each have their downside as well. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if Chelios is able to recover enough from his knee issue to play Saturday.
Induced labor two days before the finals… now that is devotion.
Babs on Hockeycentral at noon podcast today. Also good quotes from Mark Spectar.
Filppula tweaked his earlier leg injury in the last game against Dallas. Not good…
Congrats to Draper. Stuart and Drapes with their own good luck charms to win the cup.
Filps has been nursing that leg the whole playoffs. I just hope he recovers from whatever it is.