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Ryan brings us the Hump Day edition of Morning Skate.  We will need a lot more bacon after this one.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Flyers 3, Penguins 2

Maple Leafs 4, Oilers 1

Predictions record: 1-1

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Scott Hartnell, PHI (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Hartnell tipped home the game-winner to give Philly the win and end Pittsburgh’s win streak.

2. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (2 Goals)

3. Phil Kessel, TOR (1 Goal, 1 Assist)

—

 

Tonight’s Slate:

Bruins @ Sabres, 7:00 ET

Coyotes @ Devils, 7:00

Rangers @ Penguins, 7:00

Ducks @ Capitals, 7:00

Blues @ Red Wings, 7:30

Flyers @ Canadiens, 7:30

Thrashers @ Lightning, 7:30

Hurricanes @ Panthers, 7:30

Sharks @ Predators, 8:00

Avalanche @ Blackhawks, 8:30

Blue Jackets @ Canucks, 10:00

 

Games of the Night:

Atlanta Thrashers @ Tampa Bay Lightning

7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

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Records:

Overall: Thrashers (17-11-3) … Lightning (16-10-4)

Last Ten: Thrashers (8-2-0) … Lightning (5-3-2)

Away/Home: Thrashers (8-5-2) … Lightning (7-2-2)

Season Series: 2-0 Lightning

 

Players to watch:

ATL- Dustin Byfuglien

The early-season Norris candidate is averaging more than a point per game.

TB- Teddy Purcell

With Downie’s injury, Purcell has taken his spot on the Bolts’ top line.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

ATL- Ondrej Pavelec (2010/11 stats: 10-6-2, 1.85 GAA)

TB- Mike Smith (2010/11 stats: 8-5-0, 3.57 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

ATL- None

TB- Vincent Lecavalier (hand, out), Steve Downie (ankle, out), Mattias Ritola (illness, questionable)

 

Game Thoughts:

These two Southeast Division foes are looking to catch the slumping Capitals as they face-off tonight. Atlanta’s hot streak has put them two points behind the Caps, while Tampa Bay sits three points back. Steven Stamkos and company have taken the first two of the season series, but I believe Ondrej Pavelec is the difference in this one.

Prediction: Thrashers 4, Lightning 3 (SO)

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San Jose Sharks @ Nashville Predators

8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

 

Records:

Overall: Sharks (15-10-5) … Predators (15-8-6)

Last Ten: Sharks (5-4-1) … Predators (6-1-3)

Away/Home: Sharks (7-6-2) … Predators (7-1-5)

Season Series (09/10): 3-1 Sharks

 

Players to watch:

SJ- Dany Heatley

‘Heater’ has had success vs. Nashville in his career (14 points in 9 games).

NSH- Sergei Kostitsyn

SK74 is starting to fit in with the Preds and is currently on a six-game point streak.

 

Projected Goaltenders:

SJ- Antero Niittymaki (2010/11 stats: 9-3-3, 2.43 GAA)

NSH- Anders Lindback (2010/11 stats: 7-1-2, 2.18 GAA)

 

Injury Report:

SJ- Douglas Murray (lower body, questionable), Devin Setoguchi and Kent Huskins (upper body, out)

NSH- Pekka Rinne (knee, out), David Legwand (lower body, out), Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out)

 

Game Thoughts:

Games in the Western Conference here in December will make a difference come April, and this is one of them. The surging Predators host the inconsistent Sharks tonight in Nashville. Lindback has been the story for the Preds, but the whole team has kicked their game into another gear. Will San Jose put a halt to their momentum? It should be a good one…

Prediction: Predators 3, Sharks 2 (OT)

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Wednesday Game of the Week:

Philadelphia Flyers (20-7-5) @ Montreal Canadiens (18-10-2)

7:30 ET… TV: TSN, Local Networks

Season Series: Tied 1-1

 

Prediction: Canadiens 3, Flyers 1

More to come from this game…

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The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Sabres over Bruins

Coyotes over Devils

Penguins over Rangers

Capitals over Ducks

Red Wings over Blues

Hurricanes over Panthers

Blackhawks over Avalanche

Blue Jackets over Canucks

—

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Ryan brings us the Morning Skate once again complete with meat cleaver for Ranger fans.

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Flyers 3, Bruins 1
Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2
Thrashers 3, Rangers 2 (SO)
Panthers 7, Islanders 1
Predators 5, Blue Jackets 3
Sabres 4, Canadiens 3
Red Wings 3, Coyotes 2
Canucks 3, Kings 1
Predictions record: 5-2-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Johan Hedberg, ATL (46 Saves, 2 GA)
The ‘Moose’ was phenomenal in net for Atlanta, lifting them to a shootout win at MSG.
2. Steve Sullivan, NSH (3 Goals)
‘Sully’ netted his third hat trick as a Predator, and they needed all three in Columbus.
3. Nathan Horton, FLA (3 Goals, 1 Assist)
Horton’s four points helped the Panthers blow out the Isles.
Honorable Mention: B. Boucher, R. Kesler, A. Kostitsyn, J. Blake
Dud of the Night:
New York Islanders… Scott Gordon’s club was beat 7-1 at home by the Panthers. There’s no need to repeat that!
—

Tonight’s Slate:
Flyers @ Penguins, 7:00 ET
Lightning @ Predators, 8:00
Flames @ Blues, 8:00
Blue Jackets @ Wild, 8:00
Capitals @ Avalanche, 9:30
Kings @ Oilers, 9:30

Games of the Night:
Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Flyers (15-15-1) … Penguins (22-10-1)
Last Ten: Flyers (3-7-0) … Penguins (7-2-1)
Away/Home: Flyers (6-8-0) … Penguins (11-5-1)
Season Series: 1-0 Penguins

Players to watch:
PHI- Jeff Carter
He has struggled recently, but has a good track record against Pittsburgh.
PIT- Sergei Gonchar
‘Gonch’ is starting to heat up for the Pens, with 9 points in the last 9 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Brian Boucher (Last night @ BOS: 26 Saves, 1 GA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (09/10 stats: 18-8-1, 2.43 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHI- Simon Gagne (hernia, out), Ray Emery (abdomen, out), Braydon Coburn (ankle, doubtful), Blair Betts (shoulder, out), Darroll Powe (shoulder, out)
PIT- Kris Letang (illness, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
The Keystone State Battle is reunited tonight in Pittsburgh, and will again on Thursday in Philadelphia. Dan Bylsma & company will look to pounce on the struggling Flyers. Philly is looking to gather momentum after a key win in Boston last night. On the back-to-back, I’ll say the task is too tough to handle… go with Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Penguins 4, Flyers 2
—
Washington Capitals @ Colorado Avalanche
9:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Capitals (20-7-6) … Avalanche (19-10-6)
Last Ten: Capitals (7-2-1) … Avalanche (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Capitals (10-5-3) … Avalanche (9-3-2)
Season Series: First meeting

Players to watch:
WSH- Alexander Semin
Semin has 11 points in the last 6 games since returning from injury.
COL- Wojtek Wolski
Wolski has been consistently hot, and has good stats at home this year.

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Jose Theodore (09/10 stats: 8-4-4, 3.05 GAA)
COL- Craig Anderson (09/10 stats: 16-7-5, 2.57 GAA)

Injury Report:
WSH- Alex Ovechkin (undisclosed, questionable), Semyon Varlamov (groin, out), Brian Pothier (ribs, out), Boyd Gordon (back, out), Quintin Laing (jaw, out)
COL- Milan Hejduk (knee, questionable), Marek Svatos (groin, questionable), Kyle Cumiskey (foot, out), David Jones (knee, out), Ruslan Salei (back, out)

Game Thoughts:
Washington makes a rare visit to the Rocky Mountains tonight as both teams sit near (or at) the top of their respective conference standings. Colorado has played some boring home games recently, but I don’t foresee that here. The Caps could go crazy on Anderson. My gut tells me Theodore will get revenge on his old club… barely!
Prediction: Capitals 4, Avalanche 3

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Predators over Lightning
Flames over Blues
Wild over Blue Jackets
Kings over Oilers

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!

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