Puck Previews: Avs look for Chicago sweep; Couture injury update
Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. EST. The Avs go for the season sweep of the champs with Peter Budaj(notes) between the pipes. Matt Duchene(notes) has seven points in three games against Chicago, which is beastly. Watch the Game Live Via Hockey Night on Y!
Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m. EST. Sidney's out again and still facing post-concussion symptoms. No Michael Cammalleri(notes) for the Habs, who is out with the flu. Carey Price(notes) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury(notes) in this one.
Preview: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. EST. The Bolts are 12-3-2 record at home this season. The Capitals are 8-1-0 over the last nine visits to Tampa. Dwayne Roloson(notes) is back in the nets against the team he shut out, 1-0, in his Bolts debut. Preview from Raw Charge here.
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. EST. Jonas Hiller(notes) makes his eighth straight start, and why the hell not when he's on a 9-3-0 run with a 1.45 goals-against average?
Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.
Download or listen to today's episode of Puck Daddy Radio.
Evening Reading
• The Ducks are helping the Kings move to Anaheim. No, not those Kings. [Slam]
• San Jose Sharks rookie sensation Logan Couture(notes) might miss at least his next game with a knee injury suffered on a Colton Orr(notes) hit. "Officially, [Coach Todd] McLellan said only that Couture was going to be re-evaluated today, doubtful for tomorrow night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers and 'day-to-day until I get a better report.'" [Mercury News]
• Awesome: "NHL defenseman Mike Commodore(notes), who was recently put on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets, spent Monday and Tuesday practicing with the Ohio hockey team at Bird Arena." [The Post, via Puck Buddy Matt R.]
• Midseason assessment of the Los Angeles Kings management and coaching. Rich Hammond on Terry Murray: "Murray is a calm, steady leader, and he's right to say that yelling at his team would only make him feel better, not his players, but at some point, does this team need a jolt, just to shake things up if nothing else?" [LA Kings Insider]
• Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer(notes) "hasn't emerged fully-formed from the minors as the second coming of Dominik Hasek(notes), [but] there is reason to believe he's ready for the jump to the big leagues." [HOTH]
• Finally, Dan Rosen sits down with the Sedin Twins and asks Henrik Sedin(notes) who would win in a fight: "Oh, that'd be tough. We've never fought. I might win. It would be close, but I'm like two pounds heavier so I might win on that one." [NHL]
Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: From Vince A. on email:
I was looking at the NHL Shop for pictures of the All-Star jerseys and noticed that the replica jerseys appear to have the NHL crest placed higher than on the Authentic jerseys. Looking at a picture of the authentic jersey makes it seem like the centered number on the front of the jersey might actually fit nicely, in my opinion. Interestingly enough, there are no customization options available for the jersey. I know that each team still needs to be 'drafted', but surprisingly no options to customize as of yet. Unless someone knows somebody on the inside, I don't know that there'll be any possibility of a Jersey Foul, but hopefully I'm proved wrong!
Indeed!
Bold Prediction: The Blackhawks avoid the sweep. Toews with the game-winner.
