Puck Daddy - NHL

Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. EST: TV: ALT2, FSOH). No Adam Foote; what will Jackets fans do with all of those raw eggs and rotten fruit? Meanwhile, Andrew Raycroft gets the go for the Avs. Adrian Dater: "That's four straight starts for Rayzor, while Boods contemplates losing his starting job for the second straight season right around the midway point, this time to a different goalie."

• Meanwhile, in Toronto: "Oh, and just to warn you, if Raycroft does in fact finish with a higher save percentage than Toskala, and Paul Maurice leads the Carolina Hurricanes to the playoffs, I'm going to need a hug, and a glass of booze, more than I've never needed either before." [Sports and the City]

Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSPI, CSP). The Flyers are looking for their ninth win in a row at home. FanHouse has the latest "canning Michel Therrien ain't gonna fix what's broke with Pittsburgh" piece.

Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, CSN). In which the Caps attempt to avoid a two-game losing streak at home, and looking ahead at Sidney and Co. on Wednesday night.

Evgeni Malkin isn't sure why Alexander Ovechkin seeks to hit him so often when they play. "Ovechkin is a great player, but every time he hits me - I don't know why." If you read that line with the music from "The Incredible Hulk" TV series playing in the background, it'll make you mist up, guaranteed. Puck Daddy reader Chuck opines: "Can you f-in believe the comments by Crosby in this article? It's like the guy lives in an alternate reality. Ovechkin plays tough and physical the right way, yet Crosby spins it like he took a few shots at someone's cojones from behind." [AP]

Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. EST; TV: VS., RDS). A rare appearance for a Canadian franchise on Versus, and it's a hell of a matchup. Statement game for both teams: For the Habs, that they can beat the Bruins this season after curb-stomping them in the previous two years; for Boston, that they can beat Montreal despite missing several key players.

Preview: New York Rangers at New York Islanders (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG). This rivalry remains a huge deal to the fans in New York. As Point Blank points out, not so much for one of the local papers: "With the Islanders hosting the Rangers tonight in Game 43 of the season, Newsday - which is owned by Cablevision, which owns the Rangers - did not have a story on the Islanders or the Rangers in this morning's print edition." Weird. Or par for the course these days. One of the two.

• In case there was any confusion, Brian Lawton puts a fine point on it: "Are we trying to trade Vinny Lecavalier? No we are not. Is the Tampa Bay Lightning going out of business? No it isn't." [Bolts Report]

• Michael Farber offers some advice to Vincent Lecavalier: Just say no to a trade, sir. [SI]

Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. EST: TV: FSS, RSN) If the Senators can finagle Chris Campoli from the Islanders, Bryan Murray keeps his job.

Preview: Nashville Predators at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, LTV). Injuries to Nikolai Kulemin and Jeremy Williams, and Mikhail Grabovski's suspension, could mean the home debut for Brad May and Ryan Hollweg playing on the fourth line rather getting a scratch. We're sure the Preds are thrilled. No Jason Arnott tonight for Nashville. Pekka Rinne starts.

Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. EST; TV: FSAZ, KSTC). Hey, they finally caught those guys who were breaking into cars and stealing stuff during Wild home games. Mental note: Don't use a stolen credit card to buy Wii and Xbox games at Target.

• Why Obama should embrace hockey in the nation's capital. [Japers]

• The hype machine is already getting cranked up for the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks showdown. [Snapshots]

Preview: St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSMW, RSW). Chris Mason should get the start for the Blues. From the AP: "The Flames are also seeking their sixth straight home win over St. Louis (16-22-5), and are 14-1-1 overall in their last 16 matchups with the Blues." Ouch.

Preview: New Jersey Devils at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, CPPV). OK, so Brendan Shanahan isn't exactly signed, but he's practicing and stuff. Good enough, right? Jersey dodges Roberto Luongo, who's ready to play but won't go this evening.

Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: CSBA). "No dude, it's cool; Oren and Len told me they'd never trade me." "Yeah, you know, they said the same thing to me this one time. Say, how's Matt Carle working out for you guys?" "Who now?"

• The Atlanta Thrashers now have Rich Peverley. [Thrashers]

• Finally, a really obscure YouTube find: Jim Kyte takes a throat shot during a Las Vegas Thunder game, and isn't happy about it -- on ESPN2, no less. (some NSFW language).

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31 Comments

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  1. Tito "TD" O'Dell
    1. Posted by Tito "TD" O'Dell Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    @ Wysh
    "...they can beat Montreal despite missing several key players".
    If ever a phrase called for a strikethrough...
    Maybe replace it with, "they want to prove that they deserve the extra representation during All-star week".
  2. Peeler
    2. Posted by Peeler Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    I just read the article on the fued between malkin/ovie and the comments Crosby made....
    Does Crosby realize that this is not the 80's anymore? he doesn't understand why an elite player like Ovechkin takes runs (in otther words checks and follows thru) and other elite players......ummmm...ONE PHRASE THERE SIDNEY.......WHAT COLOR IS YOUR SKIRT?
    holly crap.....tell that to mess, mario, gordie, and a few others.....not to check the elite guys.....good lord...
    Wed's game is gonna be fun.....
  3. quasigenius
    3. Posted by quasigenius Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Evgeni, maybe its because ur playing hockey and he's on the other team......but that's just a guess
  4. MONKEY MAN
    4. Posted by MONKEY MAN Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    too bad granny, I mean Shanny isn' t ready tonight.
    would've been a treat to see him go up against Sundin. They would've been swingin' their canes, er sticks that is.
  5. FinFan
    5. Posted by FinFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    Ah, pure kismet, Jim Kyte listed below the Sharks. He played for them for awhile in the dark days and I'm sure other long time fans remeber his contribution. Couldn't skate, no shot, and tried and failed at being an enforcer. But at least he was half deaf, so he couldn't hear all the boos.
  6. quasigenius
    6. Posted by quasigenius Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    If Obama embraces hockey, would that make Palin obsolete?
  7. carl_vs_mastershake
    7. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Raycroft and Budaj are both underrated. I would take either on my team.
  8. Brendan
    8. Posted by Brendan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    @Chuck (Puck Daddy reader) -- are you really trying to say that Ovechkin didn't try to take Malkin's head off that game. Watch the replay again, and then ask yourself, "If that hit would have landed, would Ovechkin have been suspended?". I think so.
    Remember: 2 games for biting, 3 for shoving a ref....and we'll say 5 for decapitation, only because it's Ovechkin.
  9. quasigenius
    9. Posted by quasigenius Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    @ Fleur De Lis
    Under that system of punishment, wouldnt a decapitation result in a game misconduct to the headless player for not having his head screwed on right?
  10. Bubbabanjo
    10. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Sorry.............I like Alex............but he is being a major douchebag on this one. Malkin must have spanked his girlffriend or somethin. This is psycho jealous douchebag kind of stupid here.
    Sorry Ovechkin.............you stink on this one. Malkin is bein a dude here too and wont call him out for being a pansy.
  11. MPL
    11. Posted by MPL Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:26 pm EDT

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    http://vyous.com/sports//nhl/2009/01/13/ontario-hockey-player-dies-after-on-ice-collision-during-practice
    Ontario hockey player dies after on ice collision :-(
  12. Wyshynski
    12. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ Luke --
    You just blew my mind, and I haven't even started drinking yet.
  13. "Randy"
    13. Posted by "Randy" Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Goooooooooooooo bruins!
  14. Brendan
    14. Posted by Brendan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    @Luke -- good call, the league would then review the decapitation for further punishment.
  15. Fox
    15. Posted by Fox Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    @ FinFan: Kyte left too soon; in the Al Sims era, a D who never left his own zone (regardless of reason) would have been perfect. Which explains why Kyte never left Kansas City that year: Al was almost as terrified of success as he was of competency. That was the dark ages, not the "whaddaya gonna do, bench me?" times the year before.
  16. quasigenius
    16. Posted by quasigenius Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    @ Wysh
    What are you waiting for, for the Devils to lose to the Luongo-less Canucks?
  17. Peeler
    17. Posted by Peeler Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Ted.....although I agree NYR needs to score more in order to go deep in the post season run, as long as they win games, I don't care what the score is..2-1 W has the same effect in the standings as 7-0
  18. pensbaby71
    18. Posted by pensbaby71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    It's not just that Ovechkin hit Malkin on the ice like players do..Ovechkin's hits on Malkin the last game they played each other were soo unnecessary. In my opinion Ovechkin should have gotten a charging penalty. It looked like he wanted to injure Malkin, it was ridiculous. I can't stand that guy.
  19. P B
    19. Posted by P B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    It's so nice to hear Thorne and Clement. They are so much better than Beninati ( I think that's right) and who ever else they have on Versus, unless it's Emrick of course.
  20. banginpanger.com
    20. Posted by banginpanger.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Saw another Washington Caps Jersey faux pas tonight...Obama 08...What is with these people just throwing money away?
  21. Sledge Longfellow
    21. Posted by Sledge Longfellow Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    Maybe it's just me, but isn't "Geno" a kinda gay hockey nickname? But then Eugene is kinda a gay name anyway.
  22. Lord Calvert
    22. Posted by Lord Calvert Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT

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    @ Fleur De Lis #89 - No, Ovechkin would not have been suspended had that hit connected. He has already avoided suspension for more flagrant hits that did connect, particularly his game misconduct after a hit on Daniel Briere two years ago. Ovechkin is untouchable and Bettman will do everything in his power to keep his cash cow in a historically poor-performing large market on the ice. Ovechkin would have to kill someone before he'd get a suspension.
  23. Slodeth
    23. Posted by Slodeth Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    If Ovechkin gives Malkin any problems, I am sure that Crosby will attack Ovechkin's groin from behind.

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