Ryan brings us the Morning Skate and this time I will bring the breakfast.
The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Predators 3, Devils 1
Panthers 6, Sabres 2
Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 1
Avalanche 6, Senators 5 (OT)
Predictions record: 3-1
My 3 stars of the night:
1. Matt Duchene, COL (2 Goals)… Duchene’s stellar sophomore season continued as he pocketed two goals, including the overtime winner in a crazy contest.
2. Martin Erat, NSH (2 Goals)
3. Corey Crawford, CHI (29 Saves, 1 GA)
—
Tonight’s Slate:
Rangers @ Flyers, 7:00 ET
Capitals @ Bruins, 7:00
Coyotes @ Islanders, 7:00
Ducks @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Devils @ Thrashers, 7:00
Stars @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Maple Leafs @ Canucks, 7:00
Sabres @ Lightning, 7:30
Sharks @ Blues, 8:00
Kings @ Predators, 8:00
Wild @ Flames, 10:00
Games of the Day:
New York Rangers @ Philadelphia Flyers
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Rangers (20-13-1) … Flyers (21-7-5)
Last Ten: Rangers (7-3-0) … Flyers (6-1-3)
Away/Home: Rangers (8-8-1) … Flyers (11-5-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Flyers
Players to watch:
NYR- Marc Staal
Staal has been great in December, and he currently has a four-game point streak.
PHI- Kimmo Timonen
Timonen takes over as the Flyers’ top blueliner with Pronger on the shelf.
Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (2010/11 stats: 14-11-1, 2.40 GAA)
PHI- Sergei Bobrovsky (2010/11 stats: 15-4-3, 2.32 GAA)
Injury Report:
NYR- Ryan Callahan (hand, out), Derek Boogaard (shoulder, out), Vinny Prospal (knee, out)
PHI- Chris Pronger (foot, out), Matt Walker (hip, out), Ian Laperriere (head, out)
Game Thoughts:
New York and Philly meet up for a key matinee affair today. The Flyers are 6-0-1 in their last seven, while the Blueshirts have won three straight. Philly won their first meeting back in November, 4-1, but John Tortorella’s gang usually fares well in matinees at Wells Fargo Center. It should be a great, intense game… I like the Rangers.
Prediction: Rangers 3, Flyers 2
—
Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Capitals (18-11-4) … Bruins (16-10-4)
Last Ten: Capitals (3-5-2) … Bruins (4-4-2)
Away/Home: Capitals (6-7-1) … Bruins (7-5-3)
Season Series: 2-1 Bruins
Players to watch:
WSH- Alex Ovechkin
‘Ovie’ has three points in this seven-game skid; he has to step up offensively.
BOS- Zdeno Chara
‘Big Z’ – who has a +9 rating in the last month – will look to shut down Ovechkin.
Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Michal Neuvirth (2010/11 stats: 12-5-2, 2.68 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (2010/11 stats: 14-3-3, 1.63 GAA)
Injury Report:
WSH- Alexander Semin and Marcus Johansson (flu, questionable), Jeff Schultz (thumb, out), Boyd Gordon (lower body, out), D.J. King (undisclosed, out), Tyler Sloan (groin, out)
BOS- Mark Stuart (finger, out), Trent Whitfield (Achilles, out)
Game Thoughts:
This is the fourth and final matchup between the B’s and Caps; Claude Julien’s bunch took two of the first three. Boston has lost three in a row, but that’s nothing compared to Washington’s seven-game losing streak. Both teams will be looking to get back on the right track. I think the Bruins are in a better position to do so.
Prediction: Bruins 4, Capitals 2
—
Los Angeles Kings @ Nashville Predators
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks
Records:
Overall: Kings (17-11-1) … Predators (17-8-6)
Last Ten: Kings (4-5-1) … Predators (8-0-2)
Away/Home: Kings (6-9-0) … Predators (8-1-5)
Season Series: 1-0 Kings
Players to watch:
LA- Dustin Brown
Captain Brown has six points in the last three games, along with a six-game point streak.
NSH- Martin Erat
Erat has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in eight December games.
Projected Goaltenders:
LA- Jonathan Bernier (2010/11 stats: 2-5-0, 3.30 GAA)
NSH- Anders Lindback (2010/11 stats: 9-1-2, 2.08 GAA)
Injury Report:
LA- Willie Mitchell (lower body, out), Matt Greene (upper body, doubtful), Brad Richardson (upper body, out), Scott Parse (hip, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (knee, doubtful), Patric Hornqvist (upper body, out), David Legwand (lower body, out), Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out), Cody Franson (personal, out)
Game Thoughts:
Over the last handful of years, the Preds have had the Kings’ number. In their last two meetings, though, Bernier has owned Nashville. In two games, he has stopped 59 of 60 shots faced against the Preds. However, Barry Trotz’s crew has won eight of nine, while L.A. has struggled on the road (and is battered defensively). Go with Nashville in an entertaining game.
Prediction: Predators 4, Kings 3 (OT)
Lock of the Night:
Thrashers over Devils… John MacLean and company are reeling, while the Thrashers will be looking to send a statement to No. 17.
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Coyotes over Islanders
Hurricanes over Ducks
Stars over Blue Jackets
Canucks over Maple Leafs
Sabres over Lightning
Sharks over Blues
Wild over Flames
