We have been taking some time off to deal with the snowstorm adequately here. Hopefully everyone understands and by tonight or tomorrow, there should be a little more normalcy.
THE MORNING SKATE
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Rangers 7, Islanders 2
Blue Jackets 4, Wild 3 (SO)
Bruins 3, Panthers 2 (SO)
Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Flames 5, Sabres 2
Kings 4, Sharks 0
Predictions record: 4-2
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Chris Osgood, DET (46 Saves, 3 GA)… Ozzie made 46 saves in Colorado en route to his 400th career win in the NHL – the 10th in league history to do so.
2. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET (1 Goal, 3 Assists)
3. Anze Kopitar, LA (3 Assists)
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Tonight’s Slate:
Hurricanes @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Thrashers @ Penguins, 7:00
Canadiens @ Capitals, 7:00
Bruins @ Lightning, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Blues, 8:00
Stars @ Predators, 8:00
Sabres @ Oilers, 9:00
Ducks @ Coyotes, 9:00
Flyers @ Canucks, 10:00
Games of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Canadiens (20-14-2) … Capitals (21-12-5)
Last Ten: Canadiens (4-6-0) … Capitals (3-4-3)
Away/Home: Canadiens (8-9-0) … Capitals (13-4-4)
Season Series (09/10): Tied 2-2
Players to watch:
MTL- Michael Cammalleri
One positive of later has been the play of Cammalleri, who has been consistent this month.
WSH- Brooks Laich
It’d be huge for the Caps if Laich can get on a roll; he has points in four straight.
Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (2010/11 stats: 19-12-2, 2.27 GAA)
WSH- Michal Neuvirth (2010/11 stats: 14-6-3, 2.56 GAA)
Injury Report:
MTL- Travis Moen (flu, questionable), Andrei Markov (knee, out)
WSH- Jeff Schultz (thumb, out), Mathieu Perreault (nose, doubtful), Tom Poti (head, doubtful), Matt Bradley (finger, out), Boyd Gordon (lower body, out), D.J. Kings (undisclosed, out)
Game Thoughts:
This will be the first meeting between these two since the Canadiens pulled off the major upset of Washington last spring. This may be viewed as ‘just another game’ for the Caps, but you know they’d like to avenge that defeat. Bruce Boudreau’s club are playing better since the losing streak, while the Habs have been inconsistent on the road this year and are in a funk. I like the Caps here…
Prediction: Capitals 4, Canadiens 2
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Chicago Blackhawks @ St. Louis Blues
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Blackhawks (20-14-3) … Blues (18-12-5)
Last Ten: Blackhawks (6-3-1) … Blues (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Blackhawks (8-5-3) … Blues (12-4-2)
Season Series: 2-1 Blackhawks
Players to watch:
CHI- Marian Hossa
Hossa picked up two assists in his return on Sunday. Can he carry over that success?
STL- David Backes
Backes has been coming up big lately and has developed a bit of a rivalry with Toews.
Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Marty Turco (2010/11 stats: 9-8-2, 2.96 GAA)
STL- Jaroslav Halak (2010/11 stats: 14-10-4, 2.34 GAA)
Injury Report:
CHI- Corey Crawford (flu, questionable), Patrick Kane (ankle, out)
STL- T.J. Oshie (ankle, out), David Perron and Andy McDonald (concussion, out), Dave Scatchard (lower body, out)
Game Thoughts:
These hard-nosed division rivals meet again tonight in St. Louis. Both teams have been playing well of late; Chicago has won four straight, St. Louis three. Since getting healthy on the blueline, the Blues are starting to win some games. Meanwhile, the ‘Hawks have looked exceptional in their last four contests. Tough one to call, but I’ll go with the Blues, a good home team.
Prediction: Blues 3, Blackhawks 2
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Philadelphia Flyers @ Vancouver Canucks
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Flyers (22-8-5) … Canucks (21-8-5)
Last Ten: Flyers (7-2-1) … Canucks (7-1-2)
Away/Home: Flyers (10-2-3) … Canucks (12-3-2)
Season Series (09/10): 1-0 Canucks
Players to watch:
PHI- Danny Briere
Briere has gone five games without a goal; something tells me that skid ends here.
VAN- Henrik Sedin
Last year’s Hart winner has 20 points in the last 14 games.
Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Brian Boucher (2010/11 stats: 7-3-2, 2.11 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (2010/11 stats: 10-6-2, 3.21 GAA)
Injury Report:
PHI- Chris Pronger (foot, out), Matt Walker (hip, out), Ian Laperriere (head, out)
VAN- Mason Raymond (thumb, out), Sami Salo (Achilles, out), Guillaume Desbiens (hand, out)
Game Thoughts:
Sometimes a road trip out west can be an annual nightmare for east coast clubs. But Vancouver has been kind to the Flyers. They have not lost in VanCity since Jan. 18, 1989 and are coming off a week-long layoff. The Canucks, who are 11-1-2 in their last 14, will try to take advantage of any rust Philly may have. Though I may tend to lean towards the Canucks, it’s tough to go against the Flyers given their history in Vancouver.
Prediction: Flyers 4, Canucks 3 (OT)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Hurricanes over Maple Leafs
Penguins over Thrashers
Lightning over Bruins
Stars over Predators
Sabres over Oilers
Coyotes over Ducks
