Tomas Vokoun

PredDave · 12-27-2006, 08:02 AM

Mason stars in win - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 12/27/06 - Tennessean.com

Injured goalkeeper Tomas Vokoun has made "good progress with his hand," and could be cleared to return to practice either late this week or early next, Trotz said.

Vokoun, who underwent surgery on Nov. 27 to repair torn ligaments in his left, stick-holding hand, has not yet been allowed to hold his stick while on the ice, Trotz said, but he is expected to be cleared to do so either today or Thursday.

When he does he will use a specially fitted glove to help protect the injured area.

PredDave · 12-29-2006, 09:47 AM

Vokoun scheduled to practice Tuesday - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 12/29/06 - Tennessean.com

Vokoun scheduled to practice Tuesday

Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun is tentatively scheduled to resume practicing with the team on Tuesday.

Vokoun has been out of the lineup since Nov. 23, when he tore ligaments and suffered a small fracture in his thumb during a game against Vancouver.

He's been skating on his own prior to practices and has been fitted with a smaller cast that will allow him to grip his stick.

"It's a little cast that actually looks like a glove," Predators General Manager David Poile said. "It's pretty comfortable to wear and it shouldn't cause any problems for him."

PredDave · 01-02-2007, 12:10 PM

Vokoun gets a test today - Nashville, Tennessee - Tuesday, 01/02/07 - Tennessean.com

Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun will take the next step in his rehabilitation today, when he takes the ice to stop shots during an informal practice session at Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Vokoun, who suffered torn ligaments in his thumb Nov. 23, has been skating on his own. But today will mark the first time he's tested the thumb against shooters.

Vokoun has been fitted with a small cast that is intended to support his left thumb as he holds his goalie stick. How well the cast works will determine how quickly Vokoun returns to game action.

Predators General Manager David Poile has said the team hopes Vokoun will be ready by this weekend or early next week.

Coach Barry Trotz said that even when Vokoun does return, the team is likely to use a rotating goalie system because of how well Chris Mason has played.

PredDave · 01-04-2007, 12:49 PM

Vokoun passes first test - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 01/03/07 - Tennessean.com

Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun moved one step closer to returning to the lineup as he blocked shots from several teammates on Tuesday morning, using his stick for the first time since injuring his thumb on Nov. 23.

Coach Barry Trotz said Vokoun will participate in a full practice with the team today and could see action in a game as soon as this weekend.

"It's no pain, that is obviously the most important thing," said Vokoun, who had surgery on Nov. 27 to repair torn ligaments in his thumb. "It feels pretty good."

Vokoun will not necessarily slide back into his full-time starter role right away. Trotz said early on he could rotate Vokoun and Chris Mason, who is 12-6-1 since taking over as the starter on Nov. 25.

"I could see that happening, but at the same time at some point you tend to go with a No. 1," Trotz said. "Whoever plays better toward the end of the year is going to be the guy who is going in.

"We'll just let them play right now. The number one goal is getting Tomas back into the loop, getting him comfortable, getting him playing again. With the way Mase has played, the urgency to get Tomas back in quickly is a lot less."

PredDave · 01-11-2007, 08:05 AM

Vokoun expects slow recovery from injury - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 01/11/07 - Tennessean.com

Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun said he'll probably continue to wear a support cast on his left hand for up to six weeks.

It's helping him recover from the torn ligaments and fractured bone he suffered in his thumb Nov. 23. Vokoun made his first appearance Tuesday since the injury, stopping 27 of 31 shots in Nashville's 5-4 overtime win over Anaheim.

"It's not perfect, but I'll have to deal with it for quite some time. I went through with it and hopefully it will get better each time out," Vokoun said. "The hardest thing to do is to keep the stick strong in your hand, especially on wraparounds and things like that. You just don't have the same grip."

Predators Coach Barry Trotz said he understands Vokoun will have to make gradual improvement.

"We knew that was the case where he'd have to work through some things, but there's no other way to do it," Trotz said. "Tomas' goal is to get back to where he was on a regular basis."

Trotz said the goaltending chores likely will be split between Vokoun and Chris Mason for this weekend's back-to-back games against Columbus, and for every set of back-to-backs in the future.

"By the end of the season, hopefully we'll have both goalies ready to go and at the top of their games," Trotz said.

PredDave · 01-18-2007, 08:06 AM

Vokoun not yet up to pre-injury form - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 01/18/07 - Tennessean.com

Vokoun not yet up to pre-injury form
Goalie struggles in loss to Wings

In the aftermath of the Predators' 5-3 loss to Detroit on Wednesday, there's little doubt goalie Tomas Vokoun is struggling to regain his pre-injury form.

Two questions remain: How long will it take him to get there, and should the Predators use more of Chris Mason in the meantime?

Vokoun's night started to go wrong with 12:35 left in the first period, when Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg beat Kimmo Timonen down the right side and zipped a stoppable shot between the netminder's legs.

Things got worse 1:32 into the second period, when Zetterberg spun in the middle of the Nashville faceoff circle and — with his back to the net — slid a backhand that appeared to bounce off Vokoun's stick and his arm before rolling over the goal line.

"There's no excuses or explanation,'' Vokoun said. "The pucks went in and they should have been stopped. That's hockey, that's the kind of job we're in.''

Zetterberg was equally surprised to see the second shot go in.

"It just came into my head while I was coming down there,'' he said of the spin move. "I just did it and I'm glad it worked. It bounced a little lucky there, but it went in.''

It was actually Vokoun's first loss in four starts since returning from thumb surgery, but he was spotty in two of his other three appearances. Vokoun gave up four goals in a victory over Anaheim and three more — one of the surprising variety — in a win over Calgary.

"Tomas is obviously not on top of his game yet,'' Predators Coach Barry Trotz said. "If you ask him, he'd want those two back. That's a big turnaround because it could have been 2-0 and it's 2-2.''

Vokoun was pulled from the contest following the second goal, exchanging a slap of pads with Chris Mason as the two passed one another on the ice.

PredDave · 01-22-2007, 12:33 PM

Vokoun still top goalie - Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, 01/22/07 - Tennessean.com

Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Tomas Vokoun remains the team's top goalie heading into the NHL All-Star break.

Chris Mason started the Predators' last two games after Vokoun struggled early in a 5-3 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. Mason recorded a franchise-best fifth shutout on Thursday against Columbus, allowed three goals on Saturday against Chicago and has maintained the league's best save percentage at .930.

Vokoun has been up and down since returning earlier this month from a six-week layoff after thumb surgery.

"Tomas is the No. 1 goalie, plain and simple,'' Trotz said. "We've just got to get the rust off him like we would with anyone coming back. I'm actually the luckiest coach in the league to have two guys who can step up like that.''

PredDave · 01-26-2007, 07:59 AM

Vokoun will turn to smaller splint - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 01/26/07 - Tennessean.com

Vokoun will turn to smaller splint

Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun met with his doctor on Wednesday and plans to try out a modified, smaller splint on his left thumb at today's morning skate.

Vokoun tore a ligament in his thumb Nov. 23, had surgery a few days later and missed 21 games. Since his return, he's shown some rust, while Chris Mason continued to play well.

"I'm going to wear a smaller splint now and the thumb feels great," Vokoun said. "It's moving almost 100 percent now and there is no pain. So it's pretty good. They are trying to get me as comfortable with the protection that I have to have as possible."

While Vokoun said he anticipates getting the start tonight when the Predators face the Blackhawks in Chicago, he said he was not certain because Coach Barry Trotz was not at Thursday's practice. Trotz was on his way back from the NHL All-Star game in Dallas.

Associate coach Brent Peterson said the goalies will split the back-to-back games in Chicago and in St. Louis, but said Trotz had not yet decided who would play first.

PredDave · 02-02-2007, 09:59 AM

Vokoun is still playing with a little "rust", but he's making slow improvements as each game goes by. He's giving up fewer rebounds and not entirely covering all his angles, but he's still committing too soon and dropping to the ice too quickly.

I suspect that Mason will get the nod this Saturday against Anaheim. Its simply too important of a game to allow Vokoun to give up any soft goals...

geez, I never thought I would say that!

PredDave · 02-02-2007, 10:00 AM

Vokoun likely ahead of Mason - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 01/31/07 - Tennessean.com

Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Tuesday he's tentatively planning on using a two-games-to-one ratio, favoring goalie Tomas Vokoun over Chris Mason.

The goalie rotation has been in question ever since Vokoun returned from thumb surgery earlier this month. Vokoun played Friday in Chicago, with Mason getting the start Saturday against St. Louis.

Vokoun started against Colorado on Tuesday, surrendering four goals on 35 shots in a 4-3 loss

``It might be more like one-to-one sometimes and more like three-to-one at other times,'' Trotz said. ``We'll sort of see how each player performs. Everything is subject to change, but (the two-to-one ratio) is kind of what my initial thoughts are.''

PredDave · 02-06-2007, 08:12 AM

Shutout helps Vokoun heal - Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, 02/05/07 - Tennessean.com

Returning to top form has been a tough process for Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun.

On Saturday night against Anaheim, he made another stride toward becoming his old self.

Vokoun, who missed 21 games after having surgery to repair torn ligaments and a small fracture in his left thumb, collected his third shutout of the season, blocking all 36 shots from the Ducks on the way to a 3-0 win.

"I felt pretty good," Vokoun said. "They took a lot of shots, but it was not the toughest game I've had."

He has had some tough games, however.

In his first game back (Jan. 9 against Anaheim), he let in four goals, but the Predators won 5-4. A week later, he was pulled against Detroit after allowing two goals on eight shots in just 22 minutes.

"I think he maybe came back a little early," Predators center Jason Arnott said. "Obviously anybody who is injured and plays a big role wants to come back and help the team out. We knew his hand was hurting a little bit when he came back.

"Now his confidence is a lot better and he is back to Vouky style of play, so it's a great positive for us."

Vokoun said he still needs to work on things such as controlling rebounds, but he sees continued improvement. He's 5-2 since his return.

12-27-2006, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Tomas Vokoun Mason stars in win - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 12/27/06 - Tennessean.com Injured goalkeeper Tomas Vokoun has made "good progress with his hand," and could be cleared to return to practice either late this week or early next, Trotz said. Vokoun, who underwent surgery on Nov. 27 to repair torn ligaments in his left, stick-holding hand, has not yet been allowed to hold his stick while on the ice, Trotz said, but he is expected to be cleared to do so either today or Thursday. When he does he will use a specially fitted glove to help protect the injured area.

12-29-2006, 09:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun scheduled to practice Tuesday - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 12/29/06 - Tennessean.com Vokoun scheduled to practice Tuesday Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun is tentatively scheduled to resume practicing with the team on Tuesday. Vokoun has been out of the lineup since Nov. 23, when he tore ligaments and suffered a small fracture in his thumb during a game against Vancouver. He's been skating on his own prior to practices and has been fitted with a smaller cast that will allow him to grip his stick. "It's a little cast that actually looks like a glove," Predators General Manager David Poile said. "It's pretty comfortable to wear and it shouldn't cause any problems for him."

01-02-2007, 12:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun gets a test today - Nashville, Tennessee - Tuesday, 01/02/07 - Tennessean.com Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun will take the next step in his rehabilitation today, when he takes the ice to stop shots during an informal practice session at Gaylord Entertainment Center. Vokoun, who suffered torn ligaments in his thumb Nov. 23, has been skating on his own. But today will mark the first time he's tested the thumb against shooters. Vokoun has been fitted with a small cast that is intended to support his left thumb as he holds his goalie stick. How well the cast works will determine how quickly Vokoun returns to game action. Predators General Manager David Poile has said the team hopes Vokoun will be ready by this weekend or early next week. Coach Barry Trotz said that even when Vokoun does return, the team is likely to use a rotating goalie system because of how well Chris Mason has played.

01-04-2007, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun passes first test - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 01/03/07 - Tennessean.com Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun moved one step closer to returning to the lineup as he blocked shots from several teammates on Tuesday morning, using his stick for the first time since injuring his thumb on Nov. 23. Coach Barry Trotz said Vokoun will participate in a full practice with the team today and could see action in a game as soon as this weekend. "It's no pain, that is obviously the most important thing," said Vokoun, who had surgery on Nov. 27 to repair torn ligaments in his thumb. "It feels pretty good." Vokoun will not necessarily slide back into his full-time starter role right away. Trotz said early on he could rotate Vokoun and Chris Mason, who is 12-6-1 since taking over as the starter on Nov. 25. "I could see that happening, but at the same time at some point you tend to go with a No. 1," Trotz said. "Whoever plays better toward the end of the year is going to be the guy who is going in. "We'll just let them play right now. The number one goal is getting Tomas back into the loop, getting him comfortable, getting him playing again. With the way Mase has played, the urgency to get Tomas back in quickly is a lot less."

01-11-2007, 08:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun expects slow recovery from injury - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 01/11/07 - Tennessean.com Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun said he'll probably continue to wear a support cast on his left hand for up to six weeks. It's helping him recover from the torn ligaments and fractured bone he suffered in his thumb Nov. 23. Vokoun made his first appearance Tuesday since the injury, stopping 27 of 31 shots in Nashville's 5-4 overtime win over Anaheim. "It's not perfect, but I'll have to deal with it for quite some time. I went through with it and hopefully it will get better each time out," Vokoun said. "The hardest thing to do is to keep the stick strong in your hand, especially on wraparounds and things like that. You just don't have the same grip." Predators Coach Barry Trotz said he understands Vokoun will have to make gradual improvement. "We knew that was the case where he'd have to work through some things, but there's no other way to do it," Trotz said. "Tomas' goal is to get back to where he was on a regular basis." Trotz said the goaltending chores likely will be split between Vokoun and Chris Mason for this weekend's back-to-back games against Columbus, and for every set of back-to-backs in the future. "By the end of the season, hopefully we'll have both goalies ready to go and at the top of their games," Trotz said.

01-18-2007, 08:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun not yet up to pre-injury form - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 01/18/07 - Tennessean.com Vokoun not yet up to pre-injury form Goalie struggles in loss to Wings In the aftermath of the Predators' 5-3 loss to Detroit on Wednesday, there's little doubt goalie Tomas Vokoun is struggling to regain his pre-injury form. Two questions remain: How long will it take him to get there, and should the Predators use more of Chris Mason in the meantime? Vokoun's night started to go wrong with 12:35 left in the first period, when Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg beat Kimmo Timonen down the right side and zipped a stoppable shot between the netminder's legs. Things got worse 1:32 into the second period, when Zetterberg spun in the middle of the Nashville faceoff circle and — with his back to the net — slid a backhand that appeared to bounce off Vokoun's stick and his arm before rolling over the goal line. "There's no excuses or explanation,'' Vokoun said. "The pucks went in and they should have been stopped. That's hockey, that's the kind of job we're in.'' Zetterberg was equally surprised to see the second shot go in. "It just came into my head while I was coming down there,'' he said of the spin move. "I just did it and I'm glad it worked. It bounced a little lucky there, but it went in.'' It was actually Vokoun's first loss in four starts since returning from thumb surgery, but he was spotty in two of his other three appearances. Vokoun gave up four goals in a victory over Anaheim and three more — one of the surprising variety — in a win over Calgary. "Tomas is obviously not on top of his game yet,'' Predators Coach Barry Trotz said. "If you ask him, he'd want those two back. That's a big turnaround because it could have been 2-0 and it's 2-2.'' Vokoun was pulled from the contest following the second goal, exchanging a slap of pads with Chris Mason as the two passed one another on the ice.

01-22-2007, 12:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun still top goalie - Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, 01/22/07 - Tennessean.com Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Tomas Vokoun remains the team's top goalie heading into the NHL All-Star break. Chris Mason started the Predators' last two games after Vokoun struggled early in a 5-3 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. Mason recorded a franchise-best fifth shutout on Thursday against Columbus, allowed three goals on Saturday against Chicago and has maintained the league's best save percentage at .930. Vokoun has been up and down since returning earlier this month from a six-week layoff after thumb surgery. "Tomas is the No. 1 goalie, plain and simple,'' Trotz said. "We've just got to get the rust off him like we would with anyone coming back. I'm actually the luckiest coach in the league to have two guys who can step up like that.''

01-26-2007, 07:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun will turn to smaller splint - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 01/26/07 - Tennessean.com Vokoun will turn to smaller splint Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun met with his doctor on Wednesday and plans to try out a modified, smaller splint on his left thumb at today's morning skate. Vokoun tore a ligament in his thumb Nov. 23, had surgery a few days later and missed 21 games. Since his return, he's shown some rust, while Chris Mason continued to play well. "I'm going to wear a smaller splint now and the thumb feels great," Vokoun said. "It's moving almost 100 percent now and there is no pain. So it's pretty good. They are trying to get me as comfortable with the protection that I have to have as possible." While Vokoun said he anticipates getting the start tonight when the Predators face the Blackhawks in Chicago, he said he was not certain because Coach Barry Trotz was not at Thursday's practice. Trotz was on his way back from the NHL All-Star game in Dallas. Associate coach Brent Peterson said the goalies will split the back-to-back games in Chicago and in St. Louis, but said Trotz had not yet decided who would play first.

02-02-2007, 09:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun is still playing with a little "rust", but he's making slow improvements as each game goes by. He's giving up fewer rebounds and not entirely covering all his angles, but he's still committing too soon and dropping to the ice too quickly. I suspect that Mason will get the nod this Saturday against Anaheim. Its simply too important of a game to allow Vokoun to give up any soft goals... geez, I never thought I would say that!

02-02-2007, 10:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Vokoun likely ahead of Mason - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 01/31/07 - Tennessean.com Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Tuesday he's tentatively planning on using a two-games-to-one ratio, favoring goalie Tomas Vokoun over Chris Mason. The goalie rotation has been in question ever since Vokoun returned from thumb surgery earlier this month. Vokoun played Friday in Chicago, with Mason getting the start Saturday against St. Louis. Vokoun started against Colorado on Tuesday, surrendering four goals on 35 shots in a 4-3 loss ``It might be more like one-to-one sometimes and more like three-to-one at other times,'' Trotz said. ``We'll sort of see how each player performs. Everything is subject to change, but (the two-to-one ratio) is kind of what my initial thoughts are.''

02-06-2007, 08:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
PredDave Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	Shutout helps Vokoun heal - Nashville, Tennessee - Monday, 02/05/07 - Tennessean.com Returning to top form has been a tough process for Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun. On Saturday night against Anaheim, he made another stride toward becoming his old self. Vokoun, who missed 21 games after having surgery to repair torn ligaments and a small fracture in his left thumb, collected his third shutout of the season, blocking all 36 shots from the Ducks on the way to a 3-0 win. "I felt pretty good," Vokoun said. "They took a lot of shots, but it was not the toughest game I've had." He has had some tough games, however. In his first game back (Jan. 9 against Anaheim), he let in four goals, but the Predators won 5-4. A week later, he was pulled against Detroit after allowing two goals on eight shots in just 22 minutes. "I think he maybe came back a little early," Predators center Jason Arnott said. "Obviously anybody who is injured and plays a big role wants to come back and help the team out. We knew his hand was hurting a little bit when he came back. "Now his confidence is a lot better and he is back to Vouky style of play, so it's a great positive for us." Vokoun said he still needs to work on things such as controlling rebounds, but he sees continued improvement. He's 5-2 since his return.