Its the last day of the month and we are running very late today as there are things going on from multiple fronts as to what we are doing on the site.  Bear with us but Ryan has the Morning Skate and a jammed pack lineup on RLD right now.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Penguins 3, Rangers 1

Stars 4, Hurricanes 1

Oilers 4, Senators 1

Flames 3, Wild 0

Ducks 2, Kings 0

Predictions record: 3-2

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Jonas Hiller, ANA (27 Saves, Shutout)… Hiller made some big saves as he helped the Ducks preserve a one-goal lead most of the night.

2. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY (32 Saves, Shutout)

3. James Neal, DAL (2 Goals)

—

Tonight’s Slate:

Lightning @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET

Coyotes @ Predators, 8:00

Blues @ Blackhawks, 8:00

Thrashers @ Avalanche, 10:00

Red Wings @ Sharks, 10:30

Game of the Night:

Detroit Red Wings @ San Jose Sharks

10:30 ET… TV: NHL Network, Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Red Wings (15-4-2) … Sharks (11-7-4)

Last Ten: Red Wings (7-2-1) … Sharks (5-2-3)

Away/Home: Red Wings (5-3-0) … Sharks (7-3-2)

Season Series (09/10): 3-0-1 Red Wings

Players to watch:

DET- Henrik Zetterberg

‘Hank’ is due for a big night and has had pretty good success vs. San Jose.

SJ- Joe Pavelski

The ‘Big Pavelski’ has 11 points in his last nine games.

Projected Goaltenders:

DET- Jimmy Howard (2010/11 stats: 13-2-2, 2.49 GAA)

SJ- Antero Niittymaki (2010/11 stats: 8-2-3, 2.14 GAA)

Injury Report:

DET- Mike Modano (wrist, out), Chris Osgood and Kris Draper (groin, out)

SJ- Devin Setoguchi and Kent Huskins (undisclosed, questionable), Niclas Wallin (leg, questionable), Scott Nichol (eye, questionable), Jason Demers (upper body, out)

Game Thoughts:

San Jose and Detroit have slowly built up a solid rivalry, one where each game feels like it’s in April. The Sharks stormed by the Wings in round two last year in just five games, but Detroit has been better through the first two months. Mike Babcock and company haven’t been as good on the road, but usually play well in the Shark Tank. I’ll take the Winged Wheel in a shootout.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Sharks 3 (SO)

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Lightning over Maple Leafs

Coyotes over Predators

Blues over Blackhawks

Avalanche over Thrashers

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Ryan gets us into the Monday with the Morning Skate. Read on!

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Coyotes 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
Sharks 4, Canucks 2
Predictions record: 1-0-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jim Vandermeer, PHX (2 Goals)
2. Dan Boyle, SJ (1 Goal)
3. Robert Lang, PHX (2 Assists)
—

Tonight’s Slate:
Penguins @ Rangers, 7:00 ET
Sabres @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Panthers @ Thrashers, 7:00
Capitals @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Blues @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Avalanche @ Lightning, 7:30
Stars @ Red Wings, 7:30
Flames @ Predators, 8:00

Games of the Night:
Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Penguins (18-9-0) … Rangers (13-12-1)
Last Ten: Penguins (6-4-0) … Rangers (4-6-0)
Away/Home: Penguins (9-5-0) … Rangers (7-5-0)
Season Series: 2-0 Penguins

Players to watch:
PIT- Evgeni Malkin
All ‘Geno has done since returning is rack up a lot of points.
NYR- Michael Del Zotto
The rookie d-man was a -5 on Saturday, and hasn’t been the same since his hot start.

Projected Goaltenders:
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (09/10 stats: 15-7-0, 2.54 GAA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (09/10 stats: 11-9-1, 2.68 GAA)

Injury Report:
PIT- Chris Kunitz (lower body, out), Jay McKee (finger, out)
NYR- Brandon Dubinsky (hand, out), Wade Redden (shoulder, out)

Game Thoughts:
Pittsburgh throttled the Blueshirts on Saturday at the Igloo by a score of 8-3. It was ugly for John Tortorella’s club as Crosby notched a hat trick and 5 points. ‘Torts’ surely can’t be happy with his team right now, and it’s going to be interesting to see how they respond. Rangers fans are assuming they’ll win tonight, but I don’t think that’ll be the case. Pittsburgh beats ‘em again.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Rangers 3
—
Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Flames (16-6-3) … Predators (15-9-1)
Last Ten: Flames (6-2-2) … Predators (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Flames (9-1-3) … Predators (9-4-0)
Season Series: First meeting

Players to watch:
CGY- Jarome Iginla
‘Iggy’ is red-hot right now, and he has dominant career numbers vs. Nashville.
NSH- David Legwand
‘Leggy’ has played very well during the Preds’ hot streak, and is on a 5-game point streak.

Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (09/10 stats: 14-5-3, 2.38 GAA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (09/10 stats: 11-5-0, 2.37 GAA)

Injury Report:
CGY- Rene Bourque (undisclosed, out)
NSH- None

Game Thoughts:
The Predators have another tough task ahead of them here tonight. Calgary is better on the road than they are at home, and have won 3 of their last 4 meetings in Nashville. Barry Trotz and company will have to play another sound, disciplined game to come out on top. I think it’ll be a close game, but I like the Flames to pull out the ‘W’.
Prediction: Flames 3, Predators 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Maple Leafs
Thrashers over Panthers
Capitals over Hurricanes
Blue Jackets over Blues
Lightning over Avalanche
Red Wings over Stars

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