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If it is Monday morning then it must be time for the Morning Skate with Ryan and a cup of coffee.  Go light on the cream!

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Stars 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)

Blackhawks 3, Kings 2

Capitals 3, Senators 2

Avalanche 3, Canadiens 2

Predictions record: 1-3

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Mathieu Perreault, WSH (2 Goals)… Perreault’s pair of second period goals helped snap the Caps’ eight-game skid.

2. Loui Eriksson, DAL (1 Goal, 2 Assists)

3. Brendan Morrow, DAL (2 Goals)

 

If the playoffs started today…

Eastern Conference:

1) PHI vs. 8) BOS

2) WSH vs. 7) TB

3) MTL vs. 6) NYR

4) PIT vs. 5) ATL

Western Conference:

1) DET vs. 8) ANA

2) DAL vs. 7) CHI

3) COL vs. 6) SJ

4) VAN vs. 5) NSH

—

 

Tonight’s Slate:

Thrashers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET

Panthers @ Flyers, 7:00

Coyotes @ Penguins, 7:00

Ducks @ Bruins, 7:30

Hurricanes @ Lightning, 7:30

Canucks @ Blues, 8:00

Flames @ Wild, 8:00

 

Games of the Night:

Phoenix Coyotes @ Pittsburgh Penguins

7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

---

 

Records:

Overall: Coyotes (15-9-7) … Penguins (21-10-2)

Last Ten: Coyotes (4-4-2) … Penguins (8-2-0)

Away/Home: Coyotes (9-5-3) … Penguins (10-6-1)

Season Series: 1-0 Penguins

 

Players to watch:

PHX- Ray Whitney

Whitney has 47 points in 42 career games vs. Pittsburgh.

PIT- Evgeni Malkin

Malkin scored three goals in two games last week after returning from injury.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (2010/11 stats: 12-6-6, 2.56 GAA)

PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2010/11 stats: 14-7-1, 2.35 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov (flu, questionable), Kurt Sauer (concussion, out)

PIT- Jordan Staal (hand, out), Chris Kunitz (undisclosed, questionable), Mike Comrie (lower body, out)

 

Game Thoughts:

After dropping two straight, you know the Pens will come out with a good effort on four days rest. Phoenix is finishing off their east coast swing and will be looking to finish on a good note. Dave Tippett’s club has been just as good (or better) on the road this season than at home; but they are running into a really good team that is due for a ‘W’.

Prediction: Penguins 3, Coyotes 2

—

Vancouver Canucks @ St. Louis Blues

8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

 

Records:

Overall: Canucks (18-8-4) … Blues (15-11-5)

Last Ten: Canucks (8-1-1) … Blues (3-5-2)

Away/Home: Canucks (7-5-2) … Blues (10-3-2)

Season Series: 1-0 Blues

 

Players to watch:

VAN- Alexander Edler

Edler has quietly put together a successful and consistent season thus far.

STL- Alex Steen

Steen recorded two goals and three points in their first meeting this year.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

VAN- Roberto Luongo (2010/11 stats: 15-8-2, 2.46 GAA)

STL- Jaroslav Halak (2010/11 stats: 12-9-4, 2.38 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

VAN- Mason Raymond (thumb, out), Sami Salo (Achilles, out)

STL- David Perron and Andy McDonald (concussion, out), T.J. Oshie (ankle, out), Alex Pietrangelo (upper body, questionable), Dave Scatchard (lower body, out)

 

Game Thoughts:

Ever since their playoff matchup a couple years back, this game seems to carry a lot more intensity. Vancouver has been very consistent since a sluggish start, while it’s been the exact opposite for the Blues. St. Louis will get a shot in the arm tonight with the return of Roman Polak as the ‘D’ is as healthy as it’s been in weeks. It’s a toss-up in this one, so I’m going to go with the more desperate team. The Blues just need to keep it simple…

Prediction: Blues 2, Canucks 1

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Thrashers over Maple Leafs

Flyers over Panthers

Bruins over Ducks

Lightning over Hurricanes

Flames over Wild

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We will be back to normal tomorrow…the snow has been shoveled away. Thanks Ryan. Podcast at 8pm ET.

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Rangers 2, Flyers 1
Stars 4, Red Wings 3
Ducks 4, Coyotes 2
Predators 5, Flames 3
Penguins 2, Sabres 1 (SO)
Devils 5, Thrashers 4
Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 0
Canadiens 3, Islanders 0
Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2
Senators 4, Wild 1
Avalanche 5, Blue Jackets 2
Capitals 4, Oilers 2
Predictions record: 10-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Alex Ovechkin, WSH (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Trailing 2-0 after the 2nd, Ovie put the Caps on his back in the 3rd with a pair of goals and a helper.
2. Karlis Skrastins, DAL (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
This could be the first and last time Skrastins is one of the 3 stars! His 3 points and GWG in the 3rd lifted Dallas.
3. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (40 Saves, Shutout)
Halak turned away all 40 shots thrown at him by the Isles.
Honorable Mention: J. Gustavsson, H. Lundqvist, W. Wolski, D. McAmmond, A. Markov, M. Goc, J. Neal
Dud of the Night:
Steve Mason… Four saves on seven shots in eight-plus minutes of play. Yeah, that was Mason’s night. He continues to suffer from the sophomore slump, and names like Blaine Lacher and Jim Carey (one-year wonders) creep into your mind when you think about last year’s Calder winner.

Saturday Fantasy Roundup:
Ryan’s Picks:
F- E. Malkin (-1, 4 PIM)
F- P. Kessel (nada)
D- L. Visnovsky (-1)
G- J. Hiller (39 Saves, 2 GA)
Michael’s Picks:
F- D. Penner (-1, 2 PIM)
F- B. Ryan (PPG, -1, 2 PIM)
D- T. Kaberle (1 G, +2)
G- M. Kiprusoff (15 Saves, 4 GA)
Chris’ Picks:
F- I. Kovalchuk (1 A, +1)
F- J. Carter (nada)
D- A. Markov (2 PPG)
G- O. Pavelec (37 Saves, 5 GA)
—

Tonight’s Slate:
Red Wings @ Blackhawks, 7:00 ET
Blues @ Canucks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Red Wings (18-12-5) … Blackhawks (22-8-3)
Last Ten: Red Wings (6-3-1) … Blackhawks (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Red Wings (7-6-3) … Blackhawks (15-3-1)
Season Series: 1-0 Red Wings

Players to watch:
DET- Todd Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi picked up 3 points yesterday, and will need to keep it up with Zetterberg out.
CHI- Marian Hossa
This will be Hossa’s first game against his former ‘mates!

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Chris Osgood (09/10 stats: 7-5-4, 2.70 GAA)
CHI- Cristobal Huet (09/10 stats: 15-7-2, 2.09 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary (shoulder, out), Johan Franzen, Jonathan Ericsson, and Niklas Kronwall (knee, out), Valterri Filppula (wrist, out), Jason Williams (knee, out), Andreas Lilja (head, out)
CHI- Dave Bolland (back, out), Niklas Hjalmarsson (flu, probable), Ben Eager (upper body, out), Adam Burish (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
This historic Original Six rivalry renews for the first out of two times this week. Hossa will be facing Detroit for the first time since walking away on July 1. Mike Babcock’s crew usually plays well in Chicago, but I don’t know if they can get it done with half of the Grand Rapids Griffins on the team. They’ll get a point, but I think the ‘Hawks will be too much.
Prediction: Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 3 (SO)

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Canucks over Blues

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