Ryan brings us the Morning Skate and yes Evgeni Nabokov per Craig Custance and Bob McKenzie.  Now let’s prep for a busy Hockey Saturday.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Islanders 5, Sabres 2

Canadiens 7, Senators 1

Lightning 2, Panthers 1 (SO)

Flames 7, Stars 4

Predictions record: 2-2

My 3 stars of the night:

1. David Moss, CGY (2 Goals, 1 Assist)… Moss chipped in two goals and three points as Calgary ran away from Dallas.

2. Tomas Plekanec, MTL (2 Goals)

3. Dan Ellis, TB (29 Saves, 1 GA)

—

Today’s Slate:

Devils @ Flyers, 1:00 ET

Blackhawks @ Red Wings, 2:00

Bruins @ Avalanche, 3:00

Capitals @ Maple Leafs, 7:00

Ducks @ Canadiens, 7:00

Hurricanes @ Penguins, 7:00

Rangers @ Thrashers, 7:00

Blue Jackets @ Blues, 8:00

Kings @ Coyotes, 8:00

Flames @ Canucks, 10:00

Wild @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Day:

Chicago Blackhawks @ Detroit Red Wings

2:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Blackhawks (25-18-4) … Red Wings (29-12-6)

Last Ten: Blackhawks (5-4-1) … Red Wings (5-3-2)

Away/Home: Blackhawks (9-7-4) … Red Wings (14-5-4)

Season Series: Tied 1-1

Players to watch:

CHI- Marian Hossa

Hossa needs to step up despite going the last three games without a point.

DET- Henrik Zetterberg

‘Hank’ has been extremely consistent with 19 points in the last 15 games.

Projected Goaltenders:

CHI- Corey Crawford (2010/11 stats: 15-8-2, 2.13 GAA)

DET- Jimmy Howard (2010/11 stats: 23-7-3, 2.83 GAA)

Injury Report:

CHI- None

DET- Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom (hand, out), Brad Stuart (jaw, out), Dan Cleary (ankle, out), Mike Modano (wrist, out), Chris Osgood (sports hernia, out)

Game Thoughts:

It will certainly be an interesting matinee in Motown today. The ailing Red Wings have been up and down recently, not looking good even in their victories. Meanwhile, the ‘Hawks are well-rested after splitting last weekend’s home-and-home with Nashville. Chicago usually plays well in Detroit, as this is their first trip to the Joe this year. It’s a tough one to call, a virtual toss-up. Go with Detroit…

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 3 (SO)

—

Boston Bruins @ Colorado Avalanche

3:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Bruins (26-14-7) … Avalanche (24-17-6)

Last Ten: Bruins (6-3-1) … Avalanche (4-5-1)

Away/Home: Bruins (14-5-4) … Avalanche (13-9-3)

Season Series (09/10): 1-0 Avalanche

Players to watch:

BOS- Dennis Seidenberg

Seidenberg has quietly been pretty productive in the last month or so.

COL- Milan Hejduk

Hejduk has had success against Boston with 9 goals and 14 points in 14 games.

Projected Goaltenders:

BOS- Tim Thomas (2010/11 stats: 22-4-6, 1.83 GAA)

COL- Craig Anderson (2010/11 stats: 13-10-3, 3.05 GAA)

Injury Report:

BOS- None

COL- Tomas Fleischmann (blood clots, out), Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Quincey (shoulder, out), Peter Mueller (concussion, out)

Game Thoughts:

Here’s another afternoon contest that could go either way. Both the B’s and Avs are coming off disappointing efforts on home-ice, but had been playing well prior to the losses. Normally I’d favor Colorado in a game like this; however, I have a feeling Boston is going to get it done as they are one of the best road teams.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Avalanche 2

—

Carolina Hurricanes @ Pittsburgh Penguins

7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Hurricanes (23-18-6) … Penguins (29-15-4)

Last Ten: Hurricanes (5-3-2) … Penguins (4-4-2)

Away/Home: Hurricanes (11-10-4) … Penguins (15-9-1)

Season Series: 2-0 Penguins

Players to watch:

CAR- Jeff Skinner

Skinner is lighting it up in 2011, racking up 13 points in 11 games this month.

PIT- Jordan Staal

Staal has to be ‘the guy’ offensively with Crosby and Malkin out.

Projected Goaltenders:

CAR- Cam Ward (2010/11 stats: 20-14-5, 2.67 GAA)

PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2010/11 stats: 21-11-2, 2.26 GAA)

Injury Report:

CAR- None

PIT- Sidney Crosby (concussion, out), Evgeni Malkin (knee, out)

Game Thoughts:

The soaring Hurricanes make their way to Pittsburgh tonight for what should be a good battle with the Penguins. Dan Bylsma’s gang is definitely missing Sid and ‘Geno, and they’ll be absent once again tonight. They are looking to bounce-back from a shutout in New Jersey. Carolina is playing great hockey right now, a tough team for anyone to beat (unless you’re Boston). I’m going with the minor upset… Carolina usually plays well in Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Hurricanes 3, Penguins 2 (SO)

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Flyers over Devils

Capitals over Maple Leafs

Ducks over Canadiens

Thrashers over Rangers

Blues over Blue Jackets

Coyotes over Kings

Canucks over Flames (Lock of the night)

Sharks over Wild

Ryan brings us the Morning Skate once again.  I only hope this time i remembered the bacon to go with the eggs.

The Morning After:

Yesterday’s scores:

Oilers 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)

Bruins 3, Flyers 0

Predators 4, Blue Jackets 3 (SO)

Capitals 4, Blues 1

Coyotes 4, Wild 2

Canucks 7, Flames 2

Ducks 5, Panthers 3

Predictions record: 4-3

My 3 stars of the night:

1. Mason Raymond, VAN (3 Goals, 1 Assist)… Raymond picked up his second career hat trick (both vs. Calgary) and added a helper.

2. Tim Thomas, BOS (41 Saves, Shutout)

3. Scottie Upshall, PHX (2 Goals, 1 Assist)

Close but no cigar: G. Parros, ANA; N. Backstrom, WSH; A. Vermette, CBJ; S. Bernier, FLA; A. Hemsky, EDM

—

Tonight’s Slate:

Lightning @ Bruins, 7:00 ET

Oilers @ Maple Leafs, 7:00

Canadiens @ Devils, 7:00

Rangers @ Islanders, 7:00

Thrashers @ Penguins, 7:00

Sharks @ Senators, 7:30

Capitals @ Stars, 8:30

Panthers @ Kings, 10:30

Games of the Night:

Atlanta Thrashers @ Pittsburgh Penguins

7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Thrashers (13-9-3) … Penguins (16-8-2)

Last Ten: Thrashers (7-3-0) … Penguins (9-0-1)

Away/Home: Thrashers (5-4-2) … Penguins (7-5-1)

Season Series: 1-0 Penguins

Players to watch:

ATL- Dustin Byfuglien

‘Buff’ is on a six-game point streak, piling up 11 points in that span.

PIT- Evgeni Malkin

‘Geno seems to always burn Atlanta, and had a hat trick against them last month.

Projected Goaltenders:

ATL- Ondrej Pavelec (2010/11 stats: 7-4-2, 1.65 GAA)

PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (2010/11 stats: 9-6-1, 2.47 GAA)

Injury Report:

ATL- Fredrik Modin (upper body, out)

PIT- Jordan Staal (hand, out), Arron Asham (illness, questionable)

Game Thoughts:

Two of the hottest teams in the NHL will meet up in the Steel City tonight. Atlanta has bolted well into the playoff discussion in the last couple weeks with six wins in a row. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh can take over the division lead with two more points tonight; they’ve won nine of 10. Hard to go against either team, but the Pens usually have Atlanta’s number.

Prediction: Penguins 4, Thrashers 2

—

San Jose Sharks @ Ottawa Senators

7:30 ET… TV: TSN, NHL Net. (US), Local Networks

Records:

Overall: Sharks (11-8-4) … Senators (11-13-1)

Last Ten: Sharks (5-3-2) … Senators (3-7-0)

Away/Home: Sharks (4-4-2) … Senators (7-6-0)

Season Series (09/10): 1-0 Sharks

Players to watch:

SJ- Dany Heatley

Do I have to explain why he’s listed?

OTT- Jason Spezza

With the possible absence of guys like Alfie or Kovalev, Spezza will need to be on top of his game.

Projected Goaltenders:

SJ- Antero Niittymaki (2010/11 stats: 8-3-3, 2.34 GAA)

OTT- Pascal Leclaire (2010/11 stats: 1-5-1, 3.22 GAA)

Injury Report:

SJ- Devin Setoguchi and Jason Demers (upper body, questionable), Niclas Wallin (leg, questionable), Kent Huskins (upper body, out)

OTT- Daniel Alfredsson (flu, questionable), Alex Kovalev and Milan Michalek (lower body, questionable)

Game Thoughts:

It could very well be a hostile environment in Canada’s capital tonight as Heatley makes his anticipated return to Ottawa; ‘Heater’ asked his way out of Ottawa last summer and was eventually dealt to San Jose. The Sharks have struggled away from home, while the Sens have dropped six of eight coming in. This is a hard game to get a feel for because of the injuries, but I’ll go with the Sharks; Leclaire has been lit up by them in his career.

Prediction: Sharks 4, Senators 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:

Bruins over Lightning

Maple Leafs over Oilers

Devils over Canadiens

Rangers over Islanders

Capitals over Stars

Kings over Panthers

There is only 23 days until Christmas? Oh snap! Guess what I just saw???? Okay okay here is Ryan and the Morning Skate.

The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Maple Leafs 3, Canadiens 0
Blackhawks 4, Blue Jackets 3 (SO)
Sharks 5, Senators 2
Kings 4, Ducks 3
Predictions record: 3-1

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Patrick Marleau, SJ (2 Goals)
Marleau was everywhere last night, and led the Sharks to a big win.
2. Joey MacDonald, TOR (18 Saves, 0 GA)
MacDonald was thrown into the game after the 1st intermission when the ‘Monster’ went to the hospital. He didn’t miss a beat, and made some big saves.
3. Brad Richardson, LA (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
His first 2 points of the season came at a critical time for the Kings.
Dud of the Night:
Montreal Canadiens… You know it’s bad when the loudest the crowd got at the Bell Centre when they gave the Montreal Alouettes a raucous ovation before the game for winning the Grey Cup.
—

Tonight’s Slate:
Lightning @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Canucks @ Devils, 7:00
Avalanche @ Panthers, 7:30
Predators @ Wild, 8:00

Games of the Night:
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Boston Bruins
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Lightning (10-7-8) … Bruins (13-8-5)
Last Ten: Lightning (4-3-3) … Bruins (6-1-3)
Away/Home: Lightning (4-5-4) … Bruins (7-5-3)
Season Series: First meeting

Players to watch:
TB- Steven Stamkos
His speed and goal-scoring ability is usually a mismatch for opponents. Will it be for Chara?
BOS- Marc Savard
How will he perform after receiving a nice 7-year extension?

Projected Goaltenders:
TB- Mike Smith (09/10 stats: 4-4-5, 3.22 GAA)
BOS- Tim Thomas (09/10 stats: 6-6-3, 2.36 GAA)

Injury Report:
TB- Paul Ranger (personal, out)
BOS- Milan Lucic (ankle, out)

Game Thoughts:
Boston will look to keep pace with the Sens and Sabres in the Northeast tonight against the consistently inconsistent Lightning. The Bolts have dropped six of their last eight decisions in Boston, but haven’t lost three straight games since their first three of the year. I have a funny feeling that Tampa could win this one…
Prediction: Lightning 4, Bruins 3 (OT)
—
Vancouver Canucks @ New Jersey Devils
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canucks (14-12-0) … Devils (17-6-1)
Last Ten: Canucks (5-5-0) … Devils (7-2-1)
Away/Home: Canucks (4-8-0) … Devils (7-4-0)
Season Series: First meeting

Players to watch:
VAN- Ryan Kesler
Kesler will have to have a strong two-way game tonight.
NJ- Patrik Elias
He’s been hot lately, tallying 10 points in the last 6 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
VAN- Roberto Luongo (09/10 stats: 10-9-0, 2.56 GAA)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (09/10 stats: 15-6-1, 2.05 GAA)

Injury Report:
VAN- Rick Rypien (upper body, questionable), Pavol Demitra (shoulder, out), Michael Grabner (ankle, out), Alexandre Bolduc (shoulder, out)
NJ- Jamie Langenbrunner (undisclosed, questionable), David Clarkson (leg, out), Paul Martin (arm, out), Dainius Zubrus (knee, out), Johnny Oduya (groin, out), Rob Niedermayer (upper body, probable), Jay Pandolfo (shoulder, out)

Game Thoughts:
This is a rare goaltending dual between Luongo and Brodeur. The Team Canada hopefuls square off tonight in what should be a low-scoring, tight game. Vancouver needs to play better on the road, and could be catching the Devils at a good time with all of those injuries. I still like the Devils, though…
Prediction: Devils 3, Canucks 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Panthers over Avalanche
Wild over Predators

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