Puck Daddy Viewing Guide: Everyone plays tonight, except Canadiens, Canucks
Here is the Puck Daddy Viewing Guide: Spotlighting five things to watch for during tonight's slate of games. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
Create-a-Caption: "Vancouver Canucks' mascot Fin splashes water at the glass where a Winnipeg Jets' fan was standing before the NHL game at Rogers Arena."
• • • • •
Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Buffalo Sabres, 7:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers, 7:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Washington Capitals, 7:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes, 7:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators, 7:30 p.m. ET
Preview: NY Islanders at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET
Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Preview: Minnesota Wild at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Preview: New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators, 8:00 p.m. ET
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames, 8:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers, 9:00 p.m. ET
Preview: Dallas Stars at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET
Preview: Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET
• • • • •
Five things to know about tonight's NHL games ...
1. Orpik back this week. Good news for the Penguins and Brook Orpik as he's expected to re-join the team Friday when they meet in Carolina. Evgeni Malkin, however, will miss his fifth straight game.
2. Coffee talk for Couture. Logan Couture hasn't scored in nine games, despite averaging four shots a game. He and Sharks head coach Todd McLellan sat down for a chat Monday. "In this situation it was just to sit, have a coffee together, and talk about his game and where he is in the season – fatigue wise, bumps and bruises, and ask him how we think we can help him."
3. Kane going from boy to man. Patrick Kane is having another outstanding season, so much so that Kris Versteeg has seen a change in his second go-around with the Blackhawks: "He’s turning into a man; he’s not a little boy anymore. He definitely has always been the best player I’ve ever seen in my life on edges and the way he can get away from guys and get away from checks and create room for himself."
4. Thomas still not ready for Panthers. Tim Thomas is eligible to be taken off IR, but his groin is not helping just yet. He could be back in net after the Christmas break.
5. Great American Seth Jones is OK. After taking a puck near the eye Saturday against Montreal, Jones is sporting a gash above his left eye, a spot where doctors told him was the best place to get hit. He's expected to play Monday versus Boston.
Bold Prediction: Three games end in shutouts, two go to overtime and one sees the shootout.
