Chirps from Center Ice

Today we were given an update regarding the status of Brett Sterling, who was injured on Sunday late in the third period when he left the ice with a right leg injury. The update came from Pens beat writer Jonathan Bombulie on his twitter and blog.

Day to day is the status with what is described as a “muscle pull.” Whew. Not as serious as once feared. He didn’t practice, but was walking at the rink today.

Bombulie raises a few points in his blog about what the Pens definition of “day to day” is. Both Ryan Craig and Keven Veilleux are, “day to day” and neither have seen game ice in two weeks. Veilleux practiced full today. Craig didn’t participate in contact drills.

In my opinion Sterling doesn’t play Friday v. Hershey. Remember the quote from Hershey’s Lawrence Nycholat on how he is out for retribution against what Sterling did to him last year? Hershey knows for sure that Sterling is hurting. They’ll gun for him if they think he’s not 100%. So, you keep him out for the next four games if you think for sure he isn’t 100% (WBS’ next four games are Hershey, Bingo, Adirondack, Hershey) take your lumps for the four games losing what he adds and get back on the schtick November 5 at Rochester. But, with as competitive the East is can you afford to go 0-4? 1-3? 2-2? Depends on who you beat I suppose.

For what it’s worth, I’ll ask Sterling how he feels and if he is ready to go this weekend when I see him and all the other players at the Bar Louie Faceoff Party tomorrow. If he gives me a straight answer (I’ll start holding my breath now) I will put it up here when I get back from the bash.

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