Ryan wakes up early this Monday with the Morning Skate and yes we have pancakes and WAFFLES!
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Rangers 6, Capitals 0
Canucks 2, Oilers 1
Ducks 6, Wild 2
Predictions record: 3-0
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Corey Perry, ANA (3 Goals, 2 Assists)… Perry’s big night engineered the Ducks’ thrashing of Minnesota.
2. Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
3. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (31 Saves, Shutout)
—
If the playoffs started today…
Eastern Conference:
1) PIT vs. 8) ATL
2) WSH vs. 7) TB
3) MTL vs. 6) BOS
4) PHI vs. 5) NYR
Western Conference:
1) DET vs. 8) COL
2) VAN vs. 7) NSH
3) DAL vs. 6) PHX
4) ANA vs. 5) CHI
—
Tonight’s Slate:
Kings @ Red Wings, 7:30 ET
Thrashers @ Senators, 7:30
Islanders @ Predators, 8:00
Blue Jackets @ Flames, 9:00
Blackhawks @ Avalanche, 9:00
Stars @ Sharks, 10:30
Games of the Night:
Los Angeles Kings @ Detroit Red Wings
7:30 ET… TV: VERSUS
Records:
Overall: Kings (16-10-1) … Red Wings (19-6-3)
Last Ten: Kings (4-5-1) … Red Wings (6-3-1)
Away/Home: Kings (5-8-0) … Red Wings (11-3-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Kings
Players to watch:
LA- Anze Kopitar
Kopitar has six points on his four-game point streak, including three game-winners.
DET- Valterri Filppula
If secondary scorers like Filppula can contribute tonight, the Wings will be looking at two points.
Projected Goaltenders:
LA- Jonathan Quick (2010/11 stats: 14-5-1, 1.92 GAA)
DET- Jimmy Howard (2010/11 stats: 16-4-2, 2.52 GAA)
Injury Report:
LA- Willie Mitchell (wrist, out), Brad Richardson (upper body, questionable), Scott Parse (hip, out)
DET- Mike Modano (wrist, out)
Game Thoughts:
After a three-game skid, Detroit is back on track and ready to send a statement this week to four different playoff teams in the West – the first of which is Los Angeles. Terry Murray’s club has been up and down over the last couple weeks and has left their best hockey at home most of the year. The Wings have historically had the Kings’ number at home, and I expect that to continue tonight.
Prediction: Red Wings 4, Kings 2
—
Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Blackhawks (16-12-3) … Avalanche (15-10-4)
Last Ten: Blackhawks (6-3-1) … Avalanche (4-3-3)
Away/Home: Blackhawks (8-4-3) … Avalanche (7-4-1)
Season Series: 1-0 Avalanche
Players to watch:
CHI- Patrick Sharp
Is it me, or does Sharp always play well vs. Colorado?
COL- Kevin Shattenkirk
The rookie defenseman has been pretty impressive in his first 18 NHL games.
Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Corey Crawford (2010/11 stats: 8-4-1, 1.58 GAA)
COL- Craig Anderson (2010/11 stats: 6-4-2, 2.75 GAA)
Injury Report:
CHI- Patrick Kane (ankle, out), Marian Hossa (lower body, out), Fernando Pisani (upper body, questionable)
COL- Milan Hejduk (groin, questionable), Kyle Quincey (shoulder, questionable), Chris Stewart (hand, out), Peter Mueller and Kyle Cumiskey (concussion, out), T.J. Galiardi (wrist, out)
Game Thoughts:
The ‘Hawks and Avs first met this season on opening night, when Joe Sacco’s bunch pulled out an exciting overtime win. The bruised and battered ‘Hawks look to rebound after losing in overtime to the Sharks on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Avs are coming off a successful back-to-back sweep of Atlanta and Washington, so a letdown is possible. The is the first of a home-and-home for these two and I’m going with Chicago.
Prediction: Blackhawks 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Thrashers over Senators
Predators over Islanders
Flames over Blue Jackets
Sharks over Stars
