Ryan brings us more good coffee….keep it coming…we need it here!
The Morning After:
Wednesday GOW Recap:
Lightning 5, Penguins 3
I thought this game lived up to its billing. Both teams came out flying as Pittsburgh held a 2-1 lead not even four minutes in. Tampa Bay clawed its way back after going down 3-1 and switching goaltenders. Martin St. Louis’ breakaway goal early in the third put the Lightning on top for good, 4-3; he tacked on an empty-netter to win 5-3. The Bolts seemed to have made a statement to the league last night they are for real and will not be going away anytime soon.
Yesterday’s scores:
Thrashers 6, Rangers 4
Capitals 3, Hurricanes 0
Canadiens 5, Islanders 3
Lightning 5, Penguins 3
Blackhawks 3, Kings 1
Sharks 5, Devils 2
Predictions record: 4-2
My 3 stars of the night:
1. San Jose’s top line (13 Points)… Thornton, Heatley, and Marleau feasted on New Jersey as Jumbo Joe notched a hat trick and five points.
2. Michal Neuvirth, WSH (29 Saves, Shutout)
3. Martin St. Louis, TB (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Close but no cigar: M. Turco, CHI; T. Plekanec, MTL; J. Wisniewski, NYI; C. Adams, PIT
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Tonight’s Slate:
Maple Leafs @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Oilers @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Panthers @ Senators, 7:00
Coyotes @ Red Wings, 7:30
Blues @ Predators, 8:00
Capitals @ Wild, 8:00
Kings @ Stars, 8:30
Avalanche @ Flames, 9:30
Games of the Night:
St. Louis Blues (4-1-2) @ Nashville Predators (5-0-3)
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
2010/11 Season Series: 1-0 Predators
Players to watch:
STL- David Perron
Perron recently had a pair of two-goal games. Will that get his season jump-started?
NSH- Steve Sullivan
Last time these two met, Sullivan had a pair of big goals.
Projected Goaltenders:
STL- Jaroslav Halak (2010/11 stats: 4-1-1, 1.81 GAA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (2010/11 stats: 2-0-2, 1.58 GAA)
Injury Report:
STL- Roman Polak (wrist, out), Cam Janssen (concussion, out)
NSH- Ryan Suter (lower body, out), Marcel Goc (upper body, out), Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out)
Game Thoughts:
After hearing about how good they are through the press all week, the Predators will get a chance to show it on the ice. Their opponent tonight, St. Louis, has flown under the radar in the mean time. The Preds have won five straight in this head-to-head series; so you can bet the Blues will be determined to get the two points. It will be a close game, but Rinne just simply has their number.
Prediction: Predators 3, Blues 2 (SO)
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Los Angeles Kings (6-3-0) @ Dallas Stars (5-3-0)
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
2009/10 Season Series: 5-1 Kings
Players to watch:
LA- Wayne Simmonds
Call it a hunch, but I believe Simmonds will have a great game tonight.
DAL- Brad Richards
He has picked up where he left off last year with 11 points in 8 games.
Projected Goaltenders:
LA- Jonathan Quick (2010/11 stats: 5-1-0, 1.95 GAA)
DAL- Kari Lehtonen (2010/11 stats: 5-3-0, 2.70 GAA)
Injury Report:
LA- Drew Doughty (upper body, out), Scott Parse (groin, out)
DAL- None
Game Thoughts:
It’s no revelation that the Kings are sitting atop the Pacific, but it is a bit of a surprise that the Stars have done so well in the early going. Coming off a game last night in Chicago, look for L.A. to slow the game down and try to grind out a win. Dallas has dropped two straight at home. I like the Kings to grab an ‘ugly’ two points.
Prediction: Kings 2, Stars 1
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The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Bruins over Maple Leafs
Blue Jackets over Oilers
Senators over Panthers
Red Wings over Coyotes
Capitals over Wild
Flames over Avalanche
