So it is a bit chilly this morning. That must mean hockey weather is really here. Most places have no snow but Ryan brings you the Morning Skate anyway. Have a great day.
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Canadiens 4, Senators 1
Bruins 3, Sabres 2 (OT)
Panthers 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Flames 4, Lightning 2
Ducks 3, Oilers 2 (SO)
Predictions record: 5-0
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Stephen Weiss, FLA (2 Goals)… Weiss snapped out of a funk by scoring twice against the Avs, including the overtime winner.
2. Rene Bourque, CGY (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
3. Jonas Hiller, ANA (34 Saves, 2 GA)
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Tonight’s Slate:
Sharks @ Flyers, 7:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Penguins, 7:00
Predators @ Red Wings, 7:30
Stars @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Ducks @ Canucks, 10:00
Games of the Night:
San Jose Sharks @ Philadelphia Flyers
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Sharks (13-9-4) … Flyers (17-7-4)
Last Ten: Sharks (4-4-2) … Flyers (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Sharks (6-5-2) … Flyers (10-5-1)
Season Series (09/10): 2-0 Sharks
Players to watch:
SJ- Dany Heatley
‘Heater’ has 30 points in 26 career games vs. Philadelphia.
PHI- Danny Briere
Briere has four goals in the last six games.
Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Antti Niemi (2010/11 stats: 5-6-1, 3.33 GAA)
PHI- Sergei Bobrovsky (2010/11 stats: 14-4-2, 2.21 GAA)
Injury Report:
SJ- Devin Setoguchi (upper body, out), Kent Huskins (upper body, questionable)
PHI- Ville Leino (illness, questionable), Dan Carcillo (knee, out), Matt Walker (hip, out), Ian Laperriere (head, out)
Game Thoughts:
San Jose and Philly have played some good games in the last couple years, but the Sharks have owned the Flyers in the last decade; Philly has not won in their last 11 head-to-head meetings. The Sharks’ inconsistencies away from home – who are coming off a big win in Detroit – have been well-documented. I think they’ll keep up their winning ways, but it’ll be tough against Philly.
Prediction: Sharks 4, Flyers 3
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Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Predators (12-8-6) … Red Wings (17-5-3)
Last Ten: Predators (5-2-3) … Red Wings (6-2-2)
Away/Home: Predators (7-7-1) … Red Wings (10-2-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Red Wings
Players to watch:
NSH- Cal O’Reilly
O’Reilly is on a four-game point streak and back on track with the line changes.
DET- Pavel Datsyuk
Datsyuk has historically been a bugaboo for the Preds.
Projected Goaltenders:
NSH- Anders Lindback (2010/11 stats: 4-1-2, 2.71 GAA)
DET- Jimmy Howard (2010/11 stats: 15-3-2, 2.52 GAA)
Injury Report:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (knee, out), David Legwand (lower body, probable), Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out)
DET- Mike Modano (wrist, out)
Game Thoughts:
Central Division foes Nashville and Detroit meet up tonight for just the second time this year. The Red Wings dominated the first matchup, so you know the Preds are going to be on a mission for payback. Some tweaks to the lineup have helped Barry Trotz’s crew, while Detroit is looking to bounce back after a rare home loss. I see this one going down to the wire with the Wings coming out on top.
Prediction: Red Wings 3, Predators 2
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Wednesday Game of the Week:
Dallas Stars (16-8-2) @ Chicago Blackhawks (15-12-2)
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
2009/10 Season Series: Tied 2-2
Prediction: Stars 4, Blackhawks 3 (SO)
More to come from this game…
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The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Penguins over Maple Leafs
Canucks over Ducks
