Malone ok, Clark továbbra is kérdéses

Wing Ryan Malone, who was day to day with an upper body injury sustained Monday against Carolina, is good to go. ... A bit more questionable is defenseman Brett Clark, who took a shot below the belt against the Hurricanes and actually went to a hospital postgame to get checked out. While Clark on Wednesday said there is no damage and he has been using a lot of ice to calm things down, there still is pain, so he will be a game-time decision. "It's still pretty sore," he said. "We're going to wait and see. It's one of those areas you can't really mess with." Clark said the block was the most painful he has endured as a player. It also is "the one that lingers the most." Asked if there was any way to describe what it felt like, he said no. "There are no words," he said. "It's excruciating at the time. it just lingers. You just have to battle through it." Or, as he said, "Nature has to take it's course."

Ritola problémájára talán sikerült némileg enyhítő megoldást találni

Forward Mattias Ritola said he had a good experience on the flight from Tampa to New York while wearing a new pair of earplugs that were supposed to diminish the effects of Meniere's disease, which causes dizziness and ringing in his right ear. Flying, especially landing, seemed to make the problem worse. Ritola said he did experience some ringing in his ear today but not nearly as severe as in the past. In other words, the combination of new medication and the earplugs have been steps in the right direction. "It's definitely progress," Ritola said. Ritola is expected to be scratched from Wednesday's game with the Islanders, though it has nothing to do with his condition, and he could play if Clark cannot. "I'm shocked," Ritola said, "how good I can hear a day after flying."