Oilers visit Blues; could Blue Jackets end Hawks’ streak? (Puck Previews)
Back by popular demand, 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.
Blackhawks baby says: not a chance.
Preview: Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. ET
Both clubs played last night. Who will benefit most from this? Well, the Oilers are coming off a 5-1 win, and the Blues are coming off a weak, 3-0 loss, so I'll say the Blues. While Edmonton put in one of their best efforts of the season, St. Louis conserved a lot of energy barely showing up last night. History is also on their side. They're 9-1-1 in their last 11 versus the Oilers.
Preview: Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Blackhawks have now put in 20 games of regulation loss-free hockey. They're an absurd 17-0-3. Will they ever lose in regulation again? Yes. At some points, they're bound to have a bad night. But if it ends tonight versus the Blue Jackets... man. That would be hockey's equivalent of how Omar Little died.
Preview: Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET
The Ducks have won 7 straight at home, which is good news, since it's where this one will be taking place. But Minnesota is streaking with four wins in their last five games, and a win tonight would give them a share of the Northwest Division lead. They'll be motivated.
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 Goalie Post.
Evening Reading
• Trade action is heating up in the NHL. [The Globe & Mail]
• Sean Bergenheim has won his medical grievance with the Florida Panthers and will be paid his full salary, retroactive to the beginning of the lockout. [PHT]
• If the Canucks had known that Ryan Kesler's foot was broken a few hours earlier, they would never have waived Aaron Volpatti. But the real gem from this story is the quote from Dale Weise, on playing against Tom Sestito in the minors: “I don’t want this to come off the wrong way, but I was playing against their skilled guys when I played in the minors. I didn’t play against the third and fourth lines." [The Province]
• Erik Cole refutes rumours that he had a problem with P.K. Subban. [Montreal Gazette]
• Doug Wilson on the Sharks: "We've become a pass-first team in a shoot-first league. Our guys have to change that." [Mercury News]
Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Swatter, on the Allen Americans' Ronald McDonald jerseys:
Commodore in that jersey would have been epic back in the day.
Bold Prediction: Blue Jackets. Regulation win. Hilarity ensues.
