Ryan brings us the Morning Skate as always.  Now there is no witty video this morning.  As I say to my niece all the time, “its broken”.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Bruins 4, Panthers 0

Maple Leafs 3, Devils 1

Lightning 8, Flyers 7

Predators 3, Canadiens 0

Stars 5, Sharks 4 (OT)

Predictions record: 3-2

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Steven Stamkos, TB (3 Goals, 2 Assists)… Stamkos had one of the best performances of the year, increasing his points pace to 151 with five more in Philly.

2. Milan Lucic, BOS (3 Goals)

3. Martin St. Louis, TB (5 Assists)

Close but no cigar: T. Rask, BOS; P. Rinne and M. Goc, NSH; J. Gustavsson, TOR; N. Zherdev, PHI

Quick-hit observations:

– Last night’s game in Philly was one of the crazier you’ll see! As TSN’s James Duthie put it: “Apparently the new All-Star game format is… Tampa vs Phili.”

– Nashville’s shutout win in Montreal was a huge confidence boost after Tuesday’s debacle in Toronto. The PK was a lot better, while Rinne was a lot better than he’s been in recent weeks.

– Another night, another tough loss for San Jose. For the second straight night, the Sharks let a two-goal lead slip away in the third, allowing division foe Dallas to get the win.

– The Maple Leafs, sudden winners of two straight after dropping eight straight, are two points out from a playoff spot.

– Panthers forward David Booth fired 14 shots at Rask last night, with no success.

—

Tonight’s Slate:

Hurricanes @ Penguins, 7:00 ET

Wild @ Red Wings, 7:30

Kings @ Sabres, 7:30

Capitals @ Thrashers, 7:30

Senators @ Blues, 8:00

Rangers @ Avalanche, 9:00

Coyotes @ Oilers, 9:00

Blackhawks @ Flames, 9:30

Blue Jackets @ Ducks, 10:00

Game of the Night:

New York Rangers @ Colorado Avalanche

9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Rangers (10-8-1) … Avalanche (10-7-1)

Last Ten: Rangers (6-4-0) … Avalanche (6-3-1)

Away/Home: Rangers (6-2-0) … Avalanche (5-4-0)

Season Series: 1-0 Avalanche

Players to watch:

NYR- Marian Gaborik

Look out for ‘Gabby’ tonight against a familiar opponent.

COL- Chris Stewart

‘Stewie’ has 4 points and is a plus-5 in the last two games.

Projected Goaltenders:

NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2010/11 stats: 7-6-1, 2.64 GAA)

COL- Peter Budaj (2010/11 stats: 7-3-1, 2.72 GAA)

Injury Report:

NYR- Chris Drury (finger, out), Michal Rozsival (shoulder, questionable), Vinny Prospal (knee, out)

COL- Craig Anderson (knee, out), Peter Mueller, Kyle Quincey, Kyle Cumiskey (concussion, out), T.J. Galiardi (wrist, out), David Koci (jaw, out)

Game Thoughts:

These intraconference opponents will actually be meeting for the second time this season; Colorado won in New York 3-1 last month. The Rangers come into Denver as one of the best road teams in the league. It should be a good one tonight, and I like the Blueshirts will get the two points.

Prediction: Rangers 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)

—

Lock of the Night:

Blackhawks over Flames… Chicago has won seven straight games in Calgary and had a good kick-start to the road trip in Edmonton on Wednesday.

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Penguins over Hurricanes

Red Wings over Wild

Sabres over Kings

Capitals over Thrashers

Blues over Senators

Coyotes over Oilers

Blue Jackets over Ducks

Alright…alright….Ryan has some good stuff tonight and well let’s see what he predicted in that Preds-Devils game too. This should be good. On to The Morning Skate brought to you by Ryan from the Red Light District.

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Panthers 6, Sabres 2
Stars 3, Red Wings 1
Coyotes 3, Wild 2
Oilers 6, Avalanche 4
Flyers 3, Kings 2
Predictions record: 2-3

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Brian Boucher, PHI (37 Saves, 2 GA)
‘Boosh’ was outstanding in Philly’s win last night, and was under siege in the 3rd period (faced 21 shots).
2. Michael Frolik, FLA (2 Goals)
Frolik’s pair of goals helped Florida get a big road win vs. the Sabres.
3. Alex Auld, DAL (31 Saves, 1 GA)
In relief, Auld was on top of his game in Detroit as the Stars won 3-1.
Dud of the Night:
Detroit’s no-goal call… People usually say the phrase ‘That was the WORST call I’ve ever seen!’ pretty loosely, but I’m stating a fact here. This is the seriously the worst call I’ve ever seen… take a look.


Unbelievable… and yet, I can’t help but smile since it happened to the Red Wings.
—

Tonight’s Slate:
Maple Leafs @ Hurricanes, 7:00 ET
Bruins @ Thrashers, 7:00
Penguins @ Senators, 7:30
Coyotes @ Blues, 8:00
Devils @ Predators, 8:00
Blue Jackets @ Stars, 8:30
Blackhawks @ Flames, 9:30
Lightning @ Ducks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
New Jersey Devils @ Nashville Predators
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Devils (14-5-0) … Predators (10-8-1)
Last Ten: Devils (8-2-0) … Predators (7-3-0)
Away/Home: Devils (9-1-0) … Predators (5-3-0)
Season Series: First meeting

Players to watch:
NJ- Zach Parise
Parise is one the hottest players in the league right now, picking up 9 points on his current 5-game point streak.
NSH- Steve Sullivan
‘Sully’ is starting to show his usual offensive spark with 3 goals in the last 2 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (09/10 stats: 12-5-0, 2.21 GAA)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (09/10 stats: 7-4-0, 2.40 GAA)

Injury Report:
NJ- Johnny Oduya (groin, out), Paul Martin (arm, out), Rob Niedermayer (upper body, out), Jay Pandolfo (shoulder, out), Dean McAmmond (illness, out)
NSH- Colin Wilson (groin, out), Wade Belak (groin, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
New Jersey lost their first road game of the year on Monday, and may string together some losses away from home as things balance out. The Predators, meanwhile, are on an absolute roll right now, as they’ve played as well as they can in the last five games (4-1-0). Since they’re at home, I like the Preds to keep chuggin’ along… sorry, Chris!
Prediction: Predators 3, Devils 2
—
Chicago Blackhawks @ Calgary Flames
9:30 ET… TV: TSN, Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Blackhawks (12-5-2) … Flames (12-5-2)
Last Ten: Blackhawks (7-2-1) … Flames (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Blackhawks (2-3-1) … Flames (6-4-0)
Season Series: 1-0 Blackhawks

Players to watch:
CHI- Patrick Kane
He tallied 3 points in their last meeting, and is currently on a 7-game point streak.
CGY- Dion Phaneuf
There were whispers on Tuesday that Phaneuf got into it with some players. He also has just one point in the last nine… how does he respond??

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Cristobal Huet (09/10 stats: 9-4-1, 2.25 GAA)
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (09/10 stats: 11-4-2, 2.39 GAA)

Injury Report:
CHI- Marian Hossa (shoulder, doubtful), Kris Versteeg (upper body, probable), Dave Bolland (back, out), Adam Burish (knee, out)
CGY- None

Game Thoughts:
You think the Flames haven’t been anxiously waiting for this one?? Not only do they want to get back at them for last year’s playoff loss to the ‘Hawks, but they also want to seek revenge after blowing a 5-0 lead to this team earlier in the year. Chicago has been good this season, but they haven’t played many road games. Coming off a tough loss, I like the Flames in a close one…
Prediction: Flames 4, Blackhawks 3

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Hurricanes
Thrashers over Bruins
Senators over Penguins
Blues over Coyotes
Blue Jackets over Stars
Lightning over Ducks

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