Puck Daddy - NHL

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: New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. EST. One of the NHL's three remaining teams undefeated on the road head to Beantown coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to Buffalo in their first game without Jay Pandolfo(notes) and Paul Martin(notes). Also missing key components in their lineup, the Bruins have gained five points in their last three games and head into their match-up with the Devils having won every other game at home this season. If things continue, expect a New Jersey win even with Martin Brodeur watching from the bench. Watch The Game Live on Yahoo! Sports.

Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. EST. Welcome the Andrew Raycroft(notes) era ... however long it lasts. With Roberto Luongo(notes) sidelined with a rib injury for the next two weeks, it's up to Raycroft to get things back on track for the Canucks after blowing a 2-0 lead to Detroit on Tuesday night. After having their four-game win streak snapped by San Jose last night, the Kings will attempt to restart another one at the expense of the Canucks. Watch The Game Live on Yahoo! Sports.

Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m. EST. Pavel Datsyuk(notes) will play tonight against an Oilers club ravaged by injury and the flu. Having seen his team score just two goals in their previous three game, Edmonton coach Pat Quinn has reunited the "Kid Line" of Andrew Cogliano(notes), Robert Nilsson(notes), and Sam Gagner(notes) to boost scoring. After relieving Chris Osgood(notes) on Tuesday night and leading the Red Wings to victory, Jimmy Howard(notes) is expected to get the nod in goal tonight.

Check out previews for the other seven games this evening on the Y! Sports scores and scheds page.

Evening Reading

-Let's all welcome Eric Brewer(notes) back to the Blues lineup tonight. [STL Today]

-And now Jordan Staal(notes) is your Pittsburgh Penguins "Iron Man" now that Evgeni Malkin(notes) is out for the next couple of weeks. [Empty Netters]

-Vesa Toskala(notes) is back, so that means down to the AHL for Viktor Stalberg(notes) and Joey MacDonald(notes) and a promotion for Facebook superstar Jiri Tlusty(notes). [Leafs]

-Congrats to Chris Botta who in-conjunction with Pat LaFontaine's Companions of Courage foundation has raised $16,000 to help donate mobile XBox 360 kiosks at Winthrop Hospital and Nassau University Medical Center right near Nassau Coliseum. [Point Blank]

-P.J. Stock wants Leafs fans to believe in Brian Burke's plan, but there's going to be plenty of bumps in the road. [CBC]

Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Reader The Bog hopes the Bakersfield Condors keep things real during "King of Pop Night" tomorrow:

"If those gloves aren't covered in rhinestones then the whole exercise is just a sham."

Bold Prediction: Cristobal Huet(notes) will win his third straight and post his second shutout of the season over the Nashville Predators.

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  1. Zamboni's Dad
    1. Posted by Zamboni's Dad Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:03 pm EDT

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    Seeing the "Kid" Line for the Oilers made me think that the Sharks need a nickname for their top line of Thornton, Heatley, and, well, who knows. May I recommend: the THX line, with the T & H standing for the aforementioned duo and the X being whomever coach shoves in that night.
  2. habs1rule
    2. Posted by habs1rule Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    When Edmonton had their dynasty, their kidline consisted of Joe Murphy, Gelinas and Adam Graves at one point, not too shabby.
  3. discoelephant64
    3. Posted by discoelephant64 Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:01 pm EDT

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    Two games in a row, down 2-0 on less than 7 shots. The Wings are going nowhere fast with goaltending this bad. This is painful to watch.
  4. discoelephant64
    4. Posted by discoelephant64 Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    Two games in a row, down 2-0 on less than 7 shots. The Wings are going nowhere fast with goaltending this bad. This is painful to watch.
  5. James S
    5. Posted by James S Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    @2...that "Kid Line" was only there for one Cup, 1990...they would still skate circles around Montreal's "seafood line"....shake and bake, I'll take mine to go!!
  6. Navy Veteran
    6. Posted by Navy Veteran Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:44 pm EDT

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    Hey guys, I have been saying it since the first game...the wings suck and this season is a bust. They have no goal tending what so ever. Any of the two, below par, goalies we play, let in soft goals. Why the hell did howard come way out of the net on the oilers second goal ?? What a F*&%ing idiot. I think it's time that we all get the smoke of alcohol out of our heads and believe that they are a waste this year. I am a huge fan, but I will no longer try to force myself in to believeing that they are going to turn things around. There is no way in hell of that ever happening. You can believe what you want, and say how they started with a record so similiar to this years and went on and won the cup or made it to the cup finals. Trust me, they had talent then and now they don't. Even Lindstrom is looking as if he's lost on the ice. I am watching the game and he just gave the puck up to the oilers in front of our net. Are they all smoking crack ??? Maybe, it's that they ran out, whatever it is, they are embarrassing themselves with their lack of play. I am starting to believe that if they make it to the playoffs, it will be because they just barely squeeked in. All these other teams through the years, would let their top players restduring the season and make them a healthy scratch. They would then bring up their young guys and let them play and get used to team play. The Wings only did that when our top guys got hurt. Now look, our young guys are not doing much at all. I wish that I could find my sheet of paper that had all the names of the guys that insulted me for what I have said. I would like to see how you are reacting now and seeing that you believe that you guys are the only ones who know anything about hockey, what your thoughts are. I bet you still believe that the Wings are going to the Stanley Cup...well, if you think that, you are a frickin idiot not me. And at the end of the year..I will say that I told you so !! In watching the game, one of the guys that look great..is bertuzzi, yes Bertuzzi. Staurt, Rafalski and Lindstrom look likr crap, along with some other guys, including the goalie. TheWINGS ARE IN FOR A LONG SEASON. Let's hope that they get rid of stuart, rafalski, lebda and our goalies next year. They are not worth the money they are getting paid. Maybe they will take a pay cut, but for sure,, lebda and stuart need to go. I believe that rafalski makes more money a year then lindstrom too. I don't think that Lindstrom is a top guy any more either..he's getting too slow and is making too many stupid plays. The Wings need to dump a lot of guys and get some real hockey players.
  7. Navy Veteran
    7. Posted by Navy Veteran Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Like every great thing, it must come to an end sooner or later. I knew it would happen, especially after the loss of all the goals and scorer's. I really hope that Holland has some ideas for next year...because what he did this year is a bust !! I will still root for them, they are my team and always will be. And no, just like other guys, I am not a bandwagon jumper, I just know that what they have on the ice will not give them the cup. An idiot would be able to make that call.I heard that the Wings will have a lot of cap money next year..let's hope they use it wisely and not do what they did this year.
  8. habs1rule
    8. Posted by habs1rule Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:58 pm EDT

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    I dont know much about Detroits prospects, but a Habs-Wings trade with Carey Price, a defenseman like Hamrlik and maybe Kostitsyn for some foward help for us would make sense. Even if a third team is involved, I can see the possibility of Detroit and Montreal making a deal.
  9. James S
    9. Posted by James S Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:03 pm EDT

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    'Chief Sitting Still', Bob Gainey's new nickname...he won't make the move to deal his prize goalie, "bowlegs" Price, who spends more times sliding around on his knees than most adult film stars....Boob Gainey's pride will get in the way of any chance to improve his team...frogs unite, throw Gainey out of the pond!!
  10. Navy Veteran
    10. Posted by Navy Veteran Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:24 pm EDT

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    What's rafalski so far in the game...minus 3, with stuart at minus 2 so far. They are not the answer for our defense, along with a few other guys..lebda included. The Wings look pathetic...really !!
  11. firewing
    11. Posted by firewing Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:25 am EDT

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    hey bulldog chill dude ok. it will be alright. we almost made the comeback, and for a bounce or two we would have. also would have liked the interference penaltys they didnt call on the oilers in the 3rd period. so relax ok your going to have a stroke.
  12. discoelephant64
    12. Posted by discoelephant64 Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:40 am EDT

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    Any positives that came out of that game just got completely destroyed: Filpula's done for the next 6-8 weeks with a broken wrist. We're screwed.
  13. firewing
    13. Posted by firewing Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:56 am EDT

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    man that is bad news indeed, i hope somehow we have somebody in the minors who can move up and surprise us all with his great play. this injury thing is getting really bad.
  14. Guy F
    14. Posted by Guy F Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:59 am EDT

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    @ Firewing : The Canucks and Wings are getting hammered by the injury bug, eh? That said, assuming that all teams will ultimately have to endure significant injuries, it's better to have to deal with them now. Flippula is a hell of a playmaker.
    I do not know why anyone is ripping the Wings. Two impressive comebacks in a row. The problem is in net. Hard to win when you spot the opposition a couple of goals every game. How many teams are throwing 45 shots on goal on the road on a regular basis?
    Congrats to Darren Helm with his first regular season goal (seems odd). I doubt he kept the puck. However, I'm thinking he does have the puck from his playoff OT winner though...
  15. habs1rule
    15. Posted by habs1rule Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:00 am EDT

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    @9 You're even better than my 'Alias'......He;s me!! He's me!!
  16. firewing
    16. Posted by firewing Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:24 pm EDT

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    yea guy this injury thing is the worst i have seen in some time. i knew the goalie thing would be a problem but i didnt think it would be this big so soon. i said earlier the biggest thing i didnt like about the offseason was the goalie situation. man it looks like sammy is tearing it up for you guys. im sorry about your flyers every time i look they are having a rough go of it. i expected to see more pronger hits in the news but so far nothing. i havent seen a flyers game yet so i dont know what he is doing.

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