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Scott Cullen takes a look at the stories from October 25th thorugh the 31st in the NHL, including the Kings cap concerns, health issues for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the first suspensions of the year and more. Voynov Suspension The suspension itself goes back to October 20, after he was arrested for assault after an alleged domestic violence incident and Voynov has remained out of the lineup, with pay, while that case is investigated. His first scheduled court date is December 1. The domestic violence issue is, of course, very serious and theres no reason to have any sympathy for Voynov if he has done what hes been accused of. Where this becomes interesting, from a competitive aspect in the NHL, is how the fallout has left Voynovs team, Los Angeles Kings, jammed up against the salary cap less than a month into the season. According to Cap Geek, the Kings currently have just over $525,000 in available cap space, so when star centre Anze Kopitar got hurt, the Kings didnt have enough room to add a player from the AHL for Tuesdays game in Philadelphia so, in their ninth game of the season, the Kings dressed 19 players instead of the usual 20. They have since brought up winger David Van Der Gulik, a 31-year-old who has played 49 career NHL games and makes a pro-rated portion of $550,000 when hes in the NHL, on an emergency basis. Most teams that are up against the cap can gain relief with a player on long-term injured reserve, but that option isnt available to the Kings as it pertains to Voynov, so theyve been seeking some form of help from the league. According to the TSN Insiders, the hang up comes from the NHLPA, that isnt inclined to give cap relief because that will only lead to higher escrow payments for its membership. Its one thing to say that a team should leave itself some cushion to prepare for unexpected occurrences, but when its a $4-million cap hit that cant play, yet isnt suspended without pay, then it can put a team in a real bind. Olli Maatta Second-year Penguins defenceman Olli Maatta is facing surgery to remove a likely-cancerous tumour in his neck, with the expectation that he should make a full recovery and miss about four weeks of action following the surgery. The 20-year-old was a first-round pick, 22nd overall, in 2012, and is playing a top-four role on the Pittsburgh blueline, putting up six points in nine games while averaging 20:09 of ice time. Injury news happens every day in the NHL, but getting this kind of news out of the blue is more shocking. Hopefully, the early detection will allow for a smooth recovery for a promising young player. Blue Jackets Injuries Injuries are part of the game etc. etc., but come on. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently missing: right winger Nathan Horton, left wingers Boone Jenner, Nick Foligno and Matt Calvert, centres Brandon Dubinsky, Mark Letestu and Artem Anisimov, defenceman James Wisniewski and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Nine injured players at the same time is crazy. That all of the forwards could qualify as top-nine-calibre forwards along with a top pair defenceman and their starting goalie is an impossibly bad run of luck. What are they left with? Ryan Johansen, Scott Hartnell and Cam Atkinson are bona fide NHLers on the first line, but then its rookies Alexander Wennberg and Marko Dano along with journeymen Jack Skille, Adam Cracknell, Corey Tropp and enforder Jared Boll. Add in AHL call-ups Brian Gibbons, Michael Chaput and Sean Collins and -- voila -- theres 12 forwards for a team playing in the NHL right now. Get healthy Jackets. The Race for McDavid/Eichel A story that is going to linger over the entire season -- the peril of having spectacular talent available at the top of 2015 NHL Draft -- but its also notable because there are two teams that are decidely ahead of the rest in the race to the bottom. While winless (0-6-2) Carolina has the leagues worst record, theyve gone through some injuries and as they get healthier, they dont figure to be as bad as the Buffalo Sabres. While the Sabres have somehow managed to win a couple games, going 2-8-1, their performance has them ticketed for a likely last-place finish. Its all well and good to put a bad team in position to draft a franchise-changing talent, but there is only a 20% chance that the worst team ends up with the No. 1 pick and, the way the Sabres have started this season, they are going to have a long way to climb, even if they get their saviour. The Role of Replay There have already been four goals scored on plays that were offside and now phantom penalties are being handed out, as Detroits Luke Glendening was charged with tripping Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby when, quite clearly, he did not. Can improved replay procedures avoid these missteps in the future? Suspensions The NHL season got off to a relatively peaceful start, a couple weeks with nary a concern for the Department of Player Safety. Those sweet days of innocence are gone now, as Sharks enforcer John Scott got handed a couple of games for coming off the bench and getting into a fight with Ducks tough guy Tim Jackman, then Rangers defenceman John Moore got five games for a high hit on Wild centre Erik Haula. Not only that, but Chris Kreider, Nikolay Kulemin, Corey Tropp and Eric Gryba all managed to avoid supplemental discipline for questionable hits in the past week and Alex Burrows has a hearing lined up for his late hit on Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin Thursday night. Looks like the NHL is back to business as usual. Marian Hossa records his 1000th career point in Ottawa That Hossa could reach this milestone in the city where he started his NHL career, in 1997-98, is something extra special for a player who has seen quite a change in his reputation over the past 17 years. Early in his career, he was dogged by the Senators playoff shortcomings, even taking the blame early on for his lack of production in the postseason, but Hossa has become one of the premier two-way wingers in hockey. He has played a prominent role on a team that reached the Conference Final six times in his career. Hes won two Stanley Cups and, at 35, remains an elite winger in part because he still backchecks like hes trying to earn a spot in the lineup. In any case, its nice for Hossa to reach a scoring milestone, but his game is about so much more than putting up points; thats what ultimately makes him so valuable. Rangers score five in the third vs. Wild The Minnesota Wild have been a dominant team early in this season, owning the leagues best possession numbers, and they appeared well on their way to an impressive road win Monday at Madison Square Garden before the Rangers scored five goals in the third period, turning a 3-0 Wild lead into a 5-4 Rangers win. It shouldnt be a long-term issue for the Wild, but it was a notable blip in an otherwise sensational start to the season, one that is pushing Minnesota among the top contenders in the Western Conference. Devils snap 18-game shootout losing streak Considering that the shootout is basically a coin flip, its outrageous that the Devils somehow lost 18 straight. Of course, the player to put them over the top Thursday nigth against Winnipeg was Jacob Josefson, a forward who has eight goals in 122 career games. Ovechkin Slump I wrote about Ovechkin going scoreless in five games, for the first time in his career, and the bottom line is that hes actually playing very well right now. The points arent there and thats notable for a player that has 820 points in 688 career games -- his 1.19 points per game ranks third among active players, behind Sidney Crosby (1.40) and Evgeni Malkin (1.22) -- so its going to be interesting to see when Ovechkin actually snaps out of his drought. And a bonus one... Gordie Howe When word came that Mr. Hockey suffered a serious stroke this week, it brought back memories for many hockey fans, myself included. The second NHL game I saw in my life was in the Montreal Forum, March 22, 1980, when my Dad took me to see the Habs and the Hartford Whalers, just so I could say that I got to see Gordie Howe play. Thanks for that, Dad. I remember more about Whalers centre Mike Rogers scoring from centre ice on Bunny Larocque that night, but having read about Howe at his best, when he was a first or second-team all-star year after year after year, there is a feeling of mortality that sweeps over when inevitable health issues catch up to an 86-year-old man, even one that appeared superhuman for so long. Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Robyn Regehr Jersey . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season. Luc Robitaille Jersey .com) - DAngelo Harrison posted 21 points to guide No. http://www.kingsauthentic.com/customized/ . The Rangers centre left early in Game 1 with an upper body injury after being checked by Canadiens defenceman Mike Weaver and has not played since. Brassard told reporters after practice that he was good to go. That brought a smile to the face of Rangers coach Alain Vigneault. Rob Blake Jersey . The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. Kelly Hrudey Jersey . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.DETROIT -- With another big late-inning home run, the Detroit Tigers reopened a 1 1/2-game AL Central lead Ian Kinsler hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 Sunday for a three-game sweep. Kinslers homer off Bryan Shaw (5-5), his first since Aug. 30, followed Rajai Davis infield single and put the Tigers ahead 4-3. "Its not easy to get to that guy," Kinsler said. A night earlier, Alex Avila hit a two-out, two-run homer off Shaw in the eighth inning of the Tigers 5-4 win. Detroit widened its lead in the eighth inning Sunday on C.C. Lees run-scoring wild pitch over a shoulder of catcher Chris Gimenez during an intentional walk to Kinsler. Torii Hunter followed with a run-scoring forceout. "That was absolutely a huge play," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of the wild pitch. Phil Coke (5-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for Detroit, which won for the sixth time in seven games. The Tigers have their largest lead since before play on Aug. 10. Joe Nathan gave up Carlos Santanas RBI double in the ninth before getting his 32nd save in 38 chances and eighth in a row. With runners on first and second and no outs, Yan Gomes grounded into a double play, and pinch-hitter Jason Giambi hit a game-ending flyout. While the Tigers go to last-place Minnesota for a three-game series, second-place Kansas City hosts the Chicago White Sox for three games. Detroit plays three games at Kansas City next weekend. "Every game is huge," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Every game we play matters. Every game Kansas City plays matters." Detroit starter Justin Verlander allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings, leaving his season ERA at 4.81. He is 7-8 with a 5.40 ERA since late May. Clevelands Trevor Bauer gave up two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in five innings. The Indians are five games back for the ALs second wild card with 14 games left. "Now were going to have to get real hot real fast,&quuot; centre fielder Michael Bourn said.dddddddddddd "I feel like we had a chance to win two out of three. They showed us why they won the division the last three years." J.D. Martinez hit a solo homer in the fourth, a booming drive into the centre-field hedges for his 22nd home run this season. "You dont see many guys reach the bushes out there," Ausmus said. "In terms of raw power, hes up there with anyone in the major leagues." Santanas sacrifice fly tied the score in the fifth, and Blaine Hardy relieved Verlander with two on in the sixth. Jose Ramirez singled in the go-ahead run, and Hardy hit Michael Brantley with a pitch with the bases loaded. Martinez pulled the Tigers to 3-2 with an RBI single in the bottom half. DIVISION MINDED Seven of Martinezs 22 homers this season have come against the Indians, and hes hit .328 with 11 runs and 20 RBIs in 16 games vs. Cleveland. Thirteen of Martinezs long balls have come against the AL Central. CATCH OF THE DAY A woman standing near one of the entrances to the lower deck and holding a small child managed to snag a foul ball on a hop. She crouched down as the ball bounced her way, grabbed it with her free hand. Child in tow, she resumed walking to her seats behind Detroits dugout. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: Avila left at the end of the seventh because of what the team called lightheadedness. Ausmus said he wasnt sure whether the headache was related to a ball that struck Avilas mask earlier in the game and said he doesnt expect Avila to play Monday. Avila went 1 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts. Indians: OF Ryan Raburn didnt play, a day after leaving a game with a hyperextended left knee. Francona said the team will evaluate Raburn before deciding whether he needs an MRI. Raburn has played just 74 games this season due to injuries. UP NEXT Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (16-5) is to start Monday, with Anthony Swarzak (3-1) slated for the Twins. Clevelands Zach McAllister (3-6) will face Houstons Collin McHugh (9-9). ' ' '