Ryan brings us breakfast…..and I just have the pancakes….now the Morning Skate….
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Bruins 2, Maple Leafs 0
Blue Jackets 3, Oilers 2 (SO)
Senators 5, Panthers 3
Coyotes 4, Red Wings 2
Blues 3, Predators 0
Wild 2, Capitals 1
Kings 5, Stars 2
Avalanche 6, Flames 5
Predictions record: 6-2
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Chris Stewart, COL (3 Goals)… ‘Stewie’ continued his great start with a huge hat trick in Calgary.
2. Jaroslav Halak, STL (24 Saves, Shutout)
3. Tim Thomas, BOS (20 Saves, Shutout)
Close but no cigar: I. Bryzgalov, PHX; N. Backstrom, MIN; M. Fisher, OTT; W. Simmonds, LA; K. Wilson, CBJ
Quick-hit Observations:
– Tim Thomas is 5-0 with a 0.60 goals-against average and two shutouts. Safe to say he’s the early leader for the Vezina?? He has been better than his Vezina-winning 2008-09 campaign.
– Ottawa has bounced back from a tough start by scoring 10 goals in their last two wins. Daniel Alfredsson has 11 points in the last 7 games. Can they keep it up?
– If Halak and the Blues keep up their current play, they will win the Central Division. Mark my words.
– Dallas has started to fade back to reality with three straight losses (all on home-ice). To take a page out of ex-football coach Dennis Green: They are who we thought they were!
– After seeing Henrik Karlsson last night, Miikka Kiprusoff will have to play an excess of 70 games once again.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Canadiens @ Islanders, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Rangers, 7:00
Flyers @ Penguins, 7:00
Sabres @ Thrashers, 7:30
Oilers @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Devils @ Ducks, 10:00
Game of the Night:
Philadelphia Flyers (4-4-1) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (5-4-1)
7:00 ET… TV: NHL Net. (US), Local Networks
2010/11 Season Series: Tied 1-1
Players to watch:
PHI- Kimmo Timonen
Timonen (0 points in 9 games) has never started a season with a drought like this.
PIT- Paul Martin
Martin has fit in nicely in Pittsburgh with 7 points in 10 games.
Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Sergei Bobrovsky (2010/11 stats: 3-2-0, 2.82 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2010/11 stats: 1-4-0, 3.41 GAA)
Injury Report:
PHI- Michael Leighton (back, out), Ian Laperriere (concussion, out), Matt Walker (hip, out)
PIT- Jordan Staal (foot, out), Zbynek Michalek (shoulder, doubtful)
Game Thoughts:
Due to a scheduling quirk, this will already be the third meeting between these in-state rivals. The road team has taken each of the first two, but the Pens will look to change that tonight. Philadelphia has been inconsistent thus far, while Pittsburgh is trying to rebound after two close losses. It should be a great game… I like the Pens.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Flyers 2
Lock of the Night:
Blackhawks over Oilers… Simply put, I would be pretty surprised if Edmonton grabbed a win in Chicago tonight.
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Canadiens over Islanders
Rangers over Hurricanes
Thrashers over Sabres
Ducks over Devils
