Devan Dubnyk named Second Star of the Week; Injuries mounting for cap-strapped Wild

Good morning from practice, where the Wild's in a big-time pickle.

With Zach Parise and Marco Scandella week to week with foot and ankle injuries (according to sources), respectively, Zac Dalpe, Erik Haula and Chris Stewart aren't practicing today.

The Wild's using eight real forwards in practice and defenseman Nate Prosser, so only three lines.

The Wild's currently trying to figure out how it can afford three or four callups for Tuesday's game for Buffalo. Will it have to play shorthanded? Will Prosser have to play wing?

Right now, yes, unless the Wild figures out a way to create cap space by putting Scandella and maybe Victor Bartley on LTI (Long-term injury allows you to surpass the cap, but you must get compliant when the player returns), although the rule is convoluted on Bartley because the Wild's not absorbing his full cap hit in the first place after his training camp injury.

I hope to have further clarity later once the Wild has further clarity on how it will proceed.

As for now,

ANDERSON, DUBNYK AND WEBER NAMED NHL 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK (Oct. 31, 2016) – Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson, Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 30.

FIRST STAR – CRAIG ANDERSON, G, OTTAWA SENATORS

Anderson stopped all 59 shots he faced to post a 2-0-0 record and guide the Senators (5-3-0, 10 points) to third place in the Atlantic Division. He made 22 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 25. Anderson then took a leave of absence following the cancer diagnosis of his wife, Nicholle, but returned with a 37-save shutout in a 2-0 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 30. The 35-year-old Park Ridge, Ill., native has earned consecutive shutouts for the third time in his career – and first time in nearly a year (Nov. 19-21, 2015). He owns a 5-1-0 record with a 2.46 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in six appearances this season.

SECOND STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD

Dubnyk also was flawless, denying all 94 shots against in three starts to lead the Wild (6-2-1, 13 points) to a 3-0-0 week and first place in the Central Division. He made 27 saves in a 5-0 win over the Boston Bruins Oct. 25, 38 saves in a 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Oct. 27 and 29 saves in a 4-0 triumph over the Dallas Stars Oct. 29. In doing so, Dubnyk became the first goaltender in Wild history to post three consecutive shutouts and also took over the longest shutout streak in franchise history (181:43). The 30-year-old Regina, Sask., native improved to 64-36-9 in a Minnesota uniform (113 GP), including a 5-1-1 record in seven outings this season (1.43 GAA, .952 SV%, 3 SO).

THIRD STAR – SHEA WEBER, D, MONTREAL CANADIENS

Weber registered 3-2—5, including a pair of game-winning goals, to power the Canadiens (8-0-1, 17 points) to a 4-0-0 week and the top of the NHL's standings. He opened with consecutive 1-1—2 performances, in a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 24 and a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders Oct. 26 (GWG). Weber was held off the scoresheet in a 3-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning Oct. 27, but rebounded with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 29. The 31-year-old Sicamous, B.C., native paces the NHL with a +12 rating and shares first place among defensemen with 4-6—10 in nine games this season, his first in Montreal.