Ryan serves up breakfast TGIF style!!!!!
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Hurricanes 4, Wild 3
Maple Leafs 3, Canadiens 2
Flyers 3, Penguins 2
Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT)
Oilers 4, Flames 0
Predictions record: 4-1
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Paul Stastny, COL (2 Goals)… He had a big game for the Avs last night, potting a pair of goals including the OT winner.
2. Brandon Sutter, CAR (2 Goals)
3. Nikolai Khabibulin, EDM (37 Saves, Shutout)
Close, but no cigar: Jordan Eberle, EDM; Sergei Bobrovsky, PHI; J.S. Giguere, TOR
Quick-hit Observations:
– Knowing Brandon Sutter is just 21 and can still improve is, uh, scary. Get used to the name, hockey fans.
– Many people overlooked Carolina and Toronto in pre-season prognostications – both showed positive signs in Game One.
– Has Philadelphia found their goalie of the future? Sergei Bobrovsky was terrific in his NHL debut last – in Pittsburgh, no less!
– Last year, the Canucks and Kings were the two teams I stayed up to watch… add Edmonton to that list this year. What an exciting team!
– As for Calgary? It could be a long year if last night was any indication.
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Today’s Slate:
Wild vs. Hurricanes, 12:00 ET (Helsinki)
Sharks vs. Blue Jackets, 3:00 (Stockholm)
Stars @ Devils, 7:00
Ducks @ Red Wings, 7:30
Sabres @ Senators, 7:30
Capitals @ Thrashers, 7:30
Games of the Day:
San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Premiere Series: Stockholm, Sweden
3:00 ET… TV: Versus, Local Networks
2009/10 Season Series: 3-1 Sharks
Players to watch:
SJ- Joe Thornton
How will Thornton do in his first game as captain?
CBJ- Kristian Huselius
Huselius is one of two Swedes on the Jackets roster.
Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Antti Niemi (09/10 stats: 9-18-3, 2.76 GAA)
CBJ- Steve Mason (09/10 stats: 37-21-6, 2.65 GAA)
Injury Report:
SJ- None
CBJ- Kris Russell (knee, questionable), Andrew Murray (lower body, out), Tomas Kana (hand, out)
Game Thoughts:
After a lot of anticipation for these games overseas, the Jackets and Sharks will finally drop the puck in Sweden. Antti Niemi will be making his debut in teal, while Scott Arniel is behind the bench for his first NHL game. San Jose has historically had Columbus’ number, and I don’t think being in a different country changes that. Steve Mason will make it interesting, though.
Prediction: Sharks 3, Blue Jackets 2 (OT)
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Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
2009/10 Season Series: 5-1 Senators
Players to watch:
BUF- Drew Stafford
Stafford, in need of a big year, had 9 points in 5 pre-season games.
OTT- Sergei Gonchar
Ottawa’s biggest signing of the off-season makes his debut tonight.
Projected Goaltenders:
BUF- Ryan Miller (09/10 stats: 41-18-8, 2.22 GAA)
OTT- Pascal Leclaire (09/10 stats: 38-25-7, 2.63 GAA)
Injury Report:
BUF- None
OTT- Filip Kuba (leg, out), Ryan Shannon (head, questionable)
Game Thoughts:
These division rivals face-off tonight, and both have question marks heading into the year. Will Leclaire or Elliott emerge as a true number one? How are the Sabres going to replace Tallinder and Lydman? Ottawa dominated the season series a year ago, winning five of six over Buffalo. Look for this to be a fast-pace tilt with the Sens prevailing in the end.
Prediction: Senators 3, Sabres 2
Lock of the Night:
Devils over Stars… New Jersey is 12-1-5 in season openers on home-ice; Brodeur has a career 1.89 GAA vs. Dallas in 20 games; the Stars have not won in New Jersey since the 1999/00 season.
The rest of today’s predictions:
Wild over Hurricanes
Red Wings over Ducks
Capitals over Thrashers
