Morning Skate (12/28)

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)

 

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

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

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

About Chris Wassel

Simply I am a sports writer whose first loves will always be hockey and food. As we attempt to fix the site which has fallen into some disrepair (okay a lot), any and all help is always appreciated. For now, everything will channel through on a post by post basis. As always, let's have some fun!

Morning Skate (12/28)

BallHype: hype it up!

Sorry everyone but due to some personal issues…there will not be much of anything going up today. We should hopefully be back up and running by tomorrow. Much apologies…..

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The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:

Flyers 2, Islanders 1
Bruins 2, Panthers 1
Sabres 5, Blues 3
Maple Leafs 4, Penguins 3
Blackhawks 5, Predators 4
Canucks 5, Flames 1
Predictions record: 5-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Patrick Kane, CHI
(2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Kane’s game-winner and 3 points lifted the ‘Hawks in a wild 3rd period.
2. Mason Raymond, VAN (3 Goals)
It’s safe to say Raymond got lucky on his 2nd goal, but he did earn his hat trick.
3. Tim Connolly, BUF (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Connolly busted out of a slump with 3 points, including 2 goals in the 3rd.
Honorable Mention: M. Grier, J. Carter, T. Thomas, J. Madden, I. White
Dud of the Night:
St. Louis’ home woes
… You would think coming home after a successful road trip could spark something. But the Blues lost again on home-ice, this time 5-3 to the Sabres. They held a 3-2 lead going into the 3rd, but laid an egg in the final frame. St. Louis is now 6-12-2 at home, and left the ice to a chorus of boos last night.
Honorable Mention: Kiprusoff’s ‘Charmin-soft’ goal vs. Raymond

Tonight’s Slate:
Thrashers @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Capitals, 7:00
Red Wings @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Bruins @ Lightning, 7:00
Canadiens @ Senators, 7:30
Flames @ Oilers, 9:00
Coyotes @ Sharks, 10:30
Wild @ Kings, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators

7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall:
Canadiens (19-18-3) … Senators (19-15-4)
Last Ten: Canadiens (5-4-1) … Senators (5-5-0)
Away/Home: Canadiens (10-9-1) … Senators (13-5-3)
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:
MTL- Andrei Markov

The Habs are 5-0 with him in the lineup, and he hasn’t missed a beat.
OTT- Mike Fisher
With three key forwards shelved, Fisher has to keep up his 1st half success.

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Jaroslav Halak
(09/10 stats: 10-5-0, 2.53 GAA)
OTT- Pascal Leclaire (09/10 stats: 9-6-1, 2.91 GAA)

Injury Report:
MTL-
Brian Gionta (foot, probable), Roman Hamrlik (knee, probable), Paul Mara (hand, out)
OTT- Daniel Alfredsson (shoulder, out), Jason Spezza and Nick Foligno (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:
Montreal is coming into Ottawa red-hot, having won four straight thanks to Halak and the power play. The Habs’ man advantage has gone 9/15 during this win streak, while the Sens have given up 4 power play goals in the last two games. Cory Clouston’s club pulled out a win in Buffalo, but may be too short-handed up front to slow them down right now.
Prediction: Canadiens 4, Senators 2

Phoenix Coyotes @ San Jose Sharks
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall:
Coyotes (24-13-2) … Sharks (23-8-7)
Last Ten: Coyotes (7-2-1) … Sharks (5-2-3)
Away/Home: Coyotes (9-8-2) … Sharks (10-2-5)
Season Series: 2-0 Coyotes

Players to watch:
PHX- Keith Yandle

The young D-man has come up big, and is on pace for a career year.
SJ- Patrick Marleau
In this recent 4-game win streak, Marleau has 5 goals and 7 points.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHX- Ilya Bryzgalov
(09/10 stats: 22-10-2, 2.02 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (09/10 stats: 20-5-7, 2.32 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHX-
Vernon Fiddler (lower body, questionable), Daniel Winnik (arm, out), Kurt Sauer (headaches, out)
SJ- Brad Staubitz (face, out), Jody Shelley (soreness, out)

Game Thoughts:
This has suddenly become a marquee matchup, and will face-off again in Phoenix later this week. The ‘Yotes have won 4 of 5, and 9 in a row at home. But they are on the road tonight, facing a tough task in taking down the Sharks for a third time this year. San Jose is starting to turn it on, and is looking forward to this opportunity to finally solve Dave Tippett’s crew.
Prediction: Sharks 3, Coyotes 1

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Devils over Thrashers
Capitals over Hurricanes
Red Wings over Blue Jackets
Bruins over Lightning
Flames over Oilers
Kings over Wild

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!

About Chris Wassel

Simply I am a sports writer whose first loves will always be hockey and food. As we attempt to fix the site which has fallen into some disrepair (okay a lot), any and all help is always appreciated. For now, everything will channel through on a post by post basis. As always, let's have some fun!

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