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Monday, November 8, 1999
Captain Crunch
Dislocated elbow sidelines Smith
Steve Smith was supposed to have spent the day posing for photos, signing autographs and engaging in a little sumo wrestling at the Flamesfest Family Carnival yesterday.
Instead, he spent the day at home, battling the pain from a badly-dislocated elbow that could keep him out of the lineup for an extended period.
The Flames captain injured his elbow as he went to check the Panthers' Rob Niedermayer into the boards, but Smith got his arm wedged between the player and the glass partition, causing the dislocation.
"He's your captain and it's tough to lose him but this is why it's a team -- other guys can step up," said head coach Brian Sutter who was less than joyed at losing one of his steadiest defencemen and team leader.
Smith will have his arm in a cast for about a week when it will be looked at again by Flames doctors and re-evaluated.
No one knows for sure how long Smith will be out. But it could be a lot longer than the one-week waiting period.
Smith's injury leaves the Flames two men short on the blueline with Denis Gauthier already out with a shoulder injury.
Defenceman Wade Belak is also day to day with a minor concussion suffered in the Panthers game.
One player who will get an opportunity to play now is the enigmatic Cale Hulse, a healthy scratch against the Panthers.
Hulse has surprisingly struggled to win a regular spot in the lineup this season after a slow start caused by a broken hand.
"Sitting out is big-time frustrating," said Hulse.
"It was a tough way to start and it was tough to get back into the swing of things. I got pulled out of the lineup and now it just seems like I'm the guy they are bringing in and out.
"I talked to the assistant coaches and they just said I have to try and play better when I get in there.
"To come back and be faced with this is tough but I guess all I can do is play and show that I want to be a regular. I'd love to be considered one of the top four defenceman. Sure I've made a few mistakes but it's a game of mistakes -- no one is perfect out there.
"Sure, I could play better, but I was surprised I didn't play last game. All I can do is keep my head up and play through this."
He may get that chance now with the loss of Smith, Belak and Gauthier.
The Flames may be forced to recall a defenceman from the minors for the Sharks game Wednesday, depending on the status of Gauthier and Belak.
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