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Puck Previews: Bruins vs. Caps; Coyotes' potential owner speaks

Greg Wyshynski

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: Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET. No Mike Green(notes) or Matt Bradley(notes) for the Capitals. Michal Neuvirth(notes) will get the start against Tim Thomas(notes) and his 0.50 GAA in two games. Bruins Coach Claude Julien on any kind of goalie controversy between Thomas and Tuukka Rask(notes): "Until it becomes an issue with them, it's certainly not going to become an issue with us. Right now, they seem to be very supportive of each other. They've taken the approach that it's about team first." Your VERSUS game of the night.

Preview: Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ET. Oh dear. Years after suggesting the NHL contract the Capitals, our own Ross McKeon has gone and discussed Nashville attendance in his power rankings. Big mistake. Biiiiig mistake. Meanwhile, from the Bleacher Report (a.k.a. the Washington Post's new content partner), it's "Is 'Calgary Flames Fan' a New Synonym for Masochist?" Dunno ... Sado-Calgary Flames Fan is a mouthful.

Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild, 9 p.m. ET. Follow this one: Ryan Parent(notes) is expected to get his first Canucks start tonight in place of Dan Hamhuis(notes), who has a bruised foot. The same Dan Hamhuis whose rights the Flyers acquired by dealing ... Ryan Parent, to Nashville, who then traded him to the Canucks for Shane O'Brien(notes). Meanwhile, the Minnesota logo should be changed to a Danger: Contingents symbol thanks to the flu.

Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET. Antti Niemi(notes) is expected to get the start, sticking to a plan only Todd McLellan seems to know about. Tidbit from Canes Country: "The Hurricanes are last in the league at 37.7 percent, while San Jose is ninth at 52.9 percent."

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.

Evening Reading

• The Arizona Republic catches up with Matt Hulsizer for details on his bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes. He's agreed to pay $165 million for the team, but there's nothing in writing yet. Said Hulsizer: "Buying a hockey team is like buying a piece of art. ... You don't do it to make a lot of money. You do it because you love it." And to eventually see it sold at an auction, in some cases. [AZCentral]

• Marc Savard(notes) hit the ice for 25 minutes today: "I still have some issues, but a lot of them aren't from the injury. My head isn't screwed up after I work out right now. Obviously, there are other ongoing issues." [ESPN Boston]

• Red-head and Puck Daddy favorite Mike Commodore(notes) is on IR for the Columbus Blue Jackets. [The Cannon]

• Matt Walker(notes) could miss three months for the Philadelphia Flyers. [CSN Philly]

• Toronto's goaltending crisis. [Buzzing The Net]

• Why the Anaheim Ducks placed Brendan Mikkelson(notes) on waivers, from Coach Randy Carlyle: "To play defense in the National Hockey League, it's not an easy position to play. We felt that at this point people have played to a higher level than he has. ... He's still a young player. We still think he has potential to play." [Ducks Blog]

• How are the old faces in new places faring so far this season? [House of the Hockey]

• A visual representation of the 50 goal scorers by season. [Jewels From the Crown]

• Finally, fabulous news about Mandi Schwartz: "Six days in intensive care was long enough for Mandi Schwartz, who finally received some positive news this week in her three-year battle with cancer. Four weeks after undergoing her stem-cell transplant at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's inpatient transplant unit at the University of Washington Medical Center, tests have indicated that the birth of her new immune system appears to be under way." [NHL]

Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: By Puck Buddy "RP" from Puck Headlines:

From the Tribune link: "The Wild, under this regime, usually have sick players fly commercial". Remind me to make sure I never fly through Minnesota.

Bold Prediction: There will be a shutout in the Minnesota game.