Ryan brings us the Morning Skate and this morning it comes with hats? Yes it does.
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Sabres 3, Bruins 2
Devils 3, Coyotes 0
Rangers 4, Penguins 1
Ducks 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
Red Wings 5, Blues 2
Flyers 5, Canadiens 3
Lightning 2, Thrashers 1 (SO)
Hurricanes 4, Panthers 3
Predators 3, Sharks 2
Avalanche 4, Blackhawks 3
Canucks 3, Blue Jackets 2 (OT)
Predictions record: 5-6
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Ryan Kesler, VAN (3 Goals)… Kesler scored all three goals in the Canucks’ overtime win over the Jackets. It was Kesler’s first career hat trick.
2. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET (3 Goals, 1 Assist)
3a. Tomas Fleischmann, COL (3 Goals)
3b. Drew Stafford, BUF (3 Goals)
Close but no cigar: M. Brodeur and I. Kovalchuk, NJ; H. Zetterberg and D. Cleary, DET; T. Ruutu, CAR; J. van Riemsdyk and J. Carter, PHI; J. Hiller, ANA; A. Frolov, NYR; M. Smith, TB; A. Lindback, NSH
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Tonight’s Slate:
Ducks @ Islanders, 7:00 ET
Coyotes @ Rangers, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Thrashers, 7:00
Bruins @ Canadiens, 7:00
Kings @ Blues, 8:00
Senators @ Wild, 8:00
Sharks @ Stars, 8:30
Maple Leafs @ Flames, 9:30
Blue Jackets @ Oilers, 9:30
Games of the Night:
Boston Bruins @ Montreal Canadiens
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, NHL Net. (US), Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Bruins (16-9-4) … Canadiens (18-11-2)
Last Ten: Bruins (5-3-2) … Canadiens (5-4-1)
Away/Home: Bruins (9-4-1) … Canadiens (11-5-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Canadiens
Players to watch:
BOS- Milan Lucic
Look for Lucic to bring a lot of physicality tonight in Montreal.
MTL- Michael Cammalleri
‘Cammer’ is on a five-game point streak but can’t let up now.
Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (2010/11 stats: 14-2-3, 1.51 GAA)
MTL- Carey Price (2010/11 stats: 17-9-2, 2.07 GAA)
Injury Report:
BOS- Tyler Seguin (flu, questionable), Mark Stuart (finger, out), Trent Whitfield (Achilles, out)
MTL- Andrei Markov (knee, out)
Game Thoughts:
It’s the best rivalry in hockey and I truly wish they played more than six times a year. Whenever the B’s and Habs meet it’s a marquee event; tonight is no different. These two Original Six clubs are battling for Northeast Division supremacy in their second meeting of the year. It’s a tough call considering both are coming off losses last night. Thomas is 9-0-1 on the road this year, so I’ll go with Boston.
Prediction: Bruins 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
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San Jose Sharks @ Dallas Stars
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Sharks (15-11-5) … Stars (18-10-2)
Last Ten: Sharks (5-4-1) … Stars (7-2-1)
Away/Home: Sharks (7-7-2) … Stars (11-3-1)
Season Series: 2-0 Stars
Players to watch:
SJ- Logan Couture
The rookie leads the Sharks in goals with 14.
DAL- Brad Richards
Richards has failed to get a point in the last two games… he’s due.
Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Antero Niittymaki (2010/11 stats: 9-3-3, 2.43 GAA)
DAL- Andrew Raycroft (2010/11 stats: 5-3-0, 2.31 GAA)
Injury Report:
SJ- Douglas Murray (lower body, questionable), Kent Huskins (upper body, out)
DAL- Kari Lehtonen (back, questionable), Brendan Morrow (nose, probable), Toby Petersen (hand, out), Krys Barch (foot, out)
Game Thoughts:
This will be the second meeting between the Sharks and Stars within the last four days; Dallas won on Monday in San Jose in a shootout. They haven’t played since then, but the Sharks have; you can bet your top dollar that Todd McLellan’s gang will be ready to respond after blowing last night’s game in Nashville. Raycroft is 1-5 in his career against the Sharks and I feel Team Teal finally figures out the Stars.
Prediction: Sharks 4, Stars 3
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Ducks over Islanders
Coyotes over Rangers
Thrashers over Hurricanes
Kings over Blues
Wild over Senators
Flames over Maple Leafs
Blue Jackets over Oilers
