The kids are running late as always….time to clear out for the Morning Skate brought to you by Ryan.
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Bruins 4, Capitals 1
Rangers 2, Maple Leafs 1
Ducks 3, Flyers 2
Red Wings 4, Flames 2
Devils 3, Canadiens 0
Islanders 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
Stars 4, Panthers 1
Penguins 4, Predators 3 (OT)
Sharks 4, Avalanche 2
Wild 4, Oilers 2
Coyotes 4, Kings 2
Predictions record: 6-5
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Lee Stempniak, PHX (3 Goals)… Stempniak stepped up in a big way Thursday, netting a hat trick against L.A.
2. Martin Brodeur, NJ (29 Saves, Shutout)
3. Sidney Crosby, PIT (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Close but no cigar: T. Thomas, BOS; E. Malkin and K. Letang, PIT; J. Pavelski, SJ; C. McElhinney and R. Getzlaf, ANA; K. Brodziak, MIN; T. Wandell, DAL
Quick-hit Observations:
– The Pens-Preds game in Nashville was one of the best I’ve seen in quite some time. It had everything a fan would want to see in a game, including exciting end-to-end action. Crosby and Malkin flat out took over in the last two periods.
– Break up the Boston Bruins, eh? Tim Thomas looks sharp once again and the top line continues to be a force.
– It took ten minutes via video review to give the Islanders an overtime victory over the Lightning. The Isles are another one of those young teams that is simply believing and playing hard every night.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Flames @ Blue Jackets, 7:00 ET
Senators @ Sabres, 7:00
Lightning @ Thrashers, 7:00
Blackhawks @ Blues, 8:00
Wild @ Canucks, 10:00
Game of the Night:
Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1-1) @ Atlanta Thrashers (3-3-0)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
2010/11 Season Series: 1-0 Lightning
Players to watch:
TB- Simon Gagne
I’m calling it… Gagne finally gets a point tonight (pointless through six)!
ATL- Andrew Ladd
Tonight I’m looking for Ladd to have a solid two-way game.
Projected Goaltenders:
TB- Mike Smith (2010/11 stats: 3-0-0, 3.41 GAA)
ATL- Chris Mason (2010/11 stats: 3-3-0, 3.16 GAA)
Injury Report:
TB- Mattias Ohlund (knee, out)
ATL- Zach Bogosian (shoulder, questionable), Ondrej Pavelec (concussion, out)
Game Thoughts:
The Lightning have bolted out of the gates this season with 9 points thus far, while Atlanta has been hit and miss. Craig Ramsay’s club will need to have a solid effort out of Mason, who will be starting his sixth consecutive game. I see this being a high-paced, high-scoring tilt. Tampa Bay has won six straight meetings… Atlanta is due to beat them. I think they get it done tonight.
Prediction: Thrashers 4, Lightning 3
Lock of the Night:
Canucks over Wild… You know Vancouver will revenge on their mind after a 6-2 drubbing in Minnesota. Jose Theodore will be in net and doesn’t have the best track record against the Canucks. Plus, the Canucks have won the last four meetings at home.
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Flames over Blue Jackets
Senators over Sabres
Blues over Blackhawks
