Ankle sprain? What ankle sprain? Ryan Getzlaf 's four-point performance in 7-4 win over the Oilers Sunday gives Team Canada officials hope that the big Ducks forward is fit for Olympic duty. Ankle sprain? What ankle sprain? Ryan Getzlaf 's four-point performance in 7-4 win over the Oilers Sunday gives Team Canada officials hope that the big Ducks forward is fit for Olympic duty. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes out the latest news, buzz and inside information from the hockey world.

1. Getzlaf solid in return

Canadian Olympian Ryan Getzlaf returned to action on Sunday after missing two games for the Anaheim Ducks with a sprained left ankle. He was dominant with a two-goal, two-assist effort in the Ducks' 7-3 win in Edmonton.

The Canadian team medical staff will examine Getzlaf on Monday to determine whether the talented centre is fit enough to perform in the Olympics. If not, Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter will get the call. Getzlaf plays 19 minutes and 28 seconds in the Ducks' win against the Oilers.

Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Scott Niedermayer boarded a charter plane set up by Hockey Canada to make their way to join their Canadian teammates in Vancouver on Sunday evening. They were the last of the Canadian team members to land in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Sweden made a last-minute switch because Tomas Holmstrom aggravated a knee injury. He will be replaced by his Detroit Red Wings teammate Johan Franzen. Chicago's Marian Hossa suffered a head injury on Saturday and did not play for the Blackhawks on Sunday. But Slovakia has yet to make a determination on Hossa’s availability this week in Vancouver.

2. NHL won’t discuss Olympic participation at summit

When Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation gather in Toronto in late August for a summit on the game, they will discuss player safety and the participation of NHL players in the Olympics. The NHL also likely will be part of the summit, but league deputy commissioner Bill Daly said whether or not the NHL continues its participation in the Olympics is a debate that will be waged between the NHL and the NHLPA.

"We're at very preliminary stages right now," Daly said. "What the parties have agreed to do is put together a steering committee and an agenda. It may very well be that everybody else will have a very nice debate on that issue and we won't necessarily be part of that. Who knows? The issue ultimately has to be decided by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association — and a whole host of factors will have to be considered."

3. NHL housekeeping details

Olympians of the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche won’t have much time to rest. The first and only game on the NHL schedule the day after the Olympics conclude in Vancouver sees the Red Wings visit the Avalanche on March 1. Another 24 teams are in action on Tuesday.

The trade freeze is lifted on Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET, three days before the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 3. Clubs also are not permitted to practise until 2 p.m. local time on Feb. 24.

4. Stamkos, St. Louis and Spezza hot going into break

Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team executive director Steve Yzerman remarked on Saturday that he didn’t want to second guess his selections for the 23-player roster made on Dec. 30. But he has kept track of who was playing well in case injury replacements were needed.

Besides Carter, who scored 13 goals and 22 points in 22 games since Dec. 30, Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis as well as Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators have been the most productive since the roster was announced. Stamkos has 14 goals and 33 points in 22 games, slightly better than St. Louis' 14 goals and 28 points in 22 games.

Spezza scored 10 times and 14 points in 11 matches.

Here is a glance at the Canadian Olympians have performed since Dec. 30:

Goalies GP W-L-OTL GA SV%
1. Martin Brodeur 23 10-11-2 56 .906
2. Roberto Luongo 16 7-5-3 44 .902
3. Marc-Andre Fleury 19 12-5-1 45 .918
Defence GP G-A-Pts.
1. Dan Boyle 17 4-10-14
2. Drew Doughty 22 2-17-19
3. Duncan Keith 22 5-13-18
4. Scott Niedermayer 23 2-11-13
5. Chris Pronger 22 3-15-18
6. Brent Seabrook 22 0-6-6
7. Shea Weber 21 5-9-14
Forwards GP G-A-Pts.
1. Patrice Bergeron 16 2-6-8
2. Sidney Crosby 22 19-11-30
3. Ryan Getzlaf 18 7-13-20
4. Dany Heatley 23 9-13-22
5. Jarome Iginla 24 7-12-19
6. Patrick Marleau 23 13-10-23
7. Brenden Morrow 18 1-7-8
8. Rick Nash 22 9-11-20
9. Corey Perry 23 6-12-18
10. Mike Richards 22 8-7-15
11. Eric Staal 20 12-12-24
12. Joe Thornton 23 6-15-21
13. Jonathan Toews 21 8-10-18

5. Coyotes, Avalanche and Kings among most improved

With the NHL hitting the Olympic break, here is a look at where teams are in the standings as the schedule nears the three-quarter mark, compared with where teams finished in the conferences last season. The teams making the biggest steps forward include the Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators. On the down side are the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes.

Western Conference 2008-09 Final Standing Change
1. San Jose 1 0
2. Chicago 4 +2
3. Vancouver 3 0
4. Phoenix 13 +9
5. Los Angeles 14 +9
6. Colorado 15 +9
7. Nashville 10 +3
8. Calgary 5 -3
9. Dallas 12 +3
10. Detroit 2 -8
11. Anaheim 8 -3
12. St. Louis 6 -6
13. Minnesota 9 -4
14. Columbus 7 -7
15. Edmonton 11 -4

Eastern Conference
1. Washington 2 + 1
2. New Jersey 3 +1
3. Ottawa 11 +8
4. Pittsburgh 4 0
5. Buffalo 10 +5
6. Philadelphia 5 -1
7. Boston 1 -6
8. Montreal 8 0
9. Tampa Bay 14 +5
10. NY Rangers 7 -3
11. Atlanta 13 +2
12. NY Islanders 15 +3
13. Florida 9 -4
14. Carolina 6 -8
15. Toronto 12 -3