Puck Previews: Pens, Isles renew hostility; Booth’s debut
Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. ET.
Unless you were Rick DiPietro's cheekbones, you probably really enjoyed the 2010-11 season series between the Penguins and Islanders. First, there was that now-legendary goalie fight. Then, nine days later, the two teams went batcrap on one another, combining for 346 penalty minutes, including 15 fighting majors and 20 misconducts in a 9-3 Islanders win. Are the franchises looking to renew hostilities? Not according to Isles coach Jack Capuano, who said, "For me, it's not even a rivalry." But take this with a grain of salt, because he said it while wrapping a two-by-four in barbed wire.
Preview: Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET.
Good news for the Senators: the Hurricanes have lost two straight. Bad news: they will be without Daniel Alfredsson, who will miss the game with hip soreness. Good news: the Senators have won two straight. Bad news: they remain the Ottawa Senators, which is always a concern. Cam Ward and Craig Anderson get the starts in goal.
Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET.
Last week, I boldly predicted that the Columbus Blue Jackets would wrestle their first win from the hands of the mighty Red Wings. I was way wrong, but that won't deter me from predicting it again. I mean, how can the Blue Jackets not be inspired by GM Scott Howson's recent blog post? Nothing inspires me like transparent hand-wringing from leadership.
Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m. ET.
David Booth makes his debut as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, skating alongside fellow countrymen Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins on a line Canuck fans are calling the "American Express." One can only hope the Team America theme will get a spin each time this line scores. This game's definitely worth a watch, especially because Booth has about twelve seconds to score a goal before Canuck fans start booing him and his contract and proposing he be traded to Tampa Bay for Vincent Lecavalier, as is tradition.
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:
• Yes, Vancouver is a difficult hockey market. Booth dodged a bullet this morning when he attended the optional skate. [PITB]
• A Manitoba junior hockey team has been fined $5000 for hazing. Am I the only one who can't stand it when articles like this pop up and no one explains what they actually did? [CBC]
• Lennart Petrell needs to request that TSN update his file photo. [TSN]
• Anze Kopitar's hail mary passes are becoming legendary. [SB Nation]
Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Vanessa, on Reebok's Fair Isle NHL Jerseys:
The more I look at these, the more I'd like them if they were for pets. Otherwise, fail.
Bold prediction: I'm telling you, man, Columbus is going to win. They're due.
