NHL Morning Papers–Western Conference (Sunday Edition)

Here are the Pacific Division morning papers:

• As a reward for winning the Pacific Division on Friday, Sharks coach Ron Wilson cancelled practice on Saturday. The Sharks get back on the ice today when they face the Coyotes at the HP Pavilion.
• In Saturday’s 7-2 loss to the Stars, the Kings tied an NHL record by playing their seventh goaltender of the season.
• Ryan Getzlaf and J.S. Giguere feel they are healthy enough to play but the final decision lies with the coaching staff, writes Damien Dottore.
• When you have a six goal lead, late-game goals don’t really hurt as much, writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
• The Coyotes are not going to make the playoffs, so the team’s focus is on finishing the season strong, writes Jim Gintonio.

Here are the Northwest Division morning papers:

• “We played a good game, but we didn’t play with an edge, and that’s what it took tonight,” said Flames coach Mike Keenan after his team’s 2-1 home loss to the Oilers. Off the ice, Robyn Regehr is going to take a trip to Africa to see what he has been reading about.
• “We have four games left. We have them all at home. We have to take all four,” said Canucks winger Daniel Sedin. Meanwhile, Alexander Burrows escaped without suspension for his apparent spear on Pierre-Marc Bouchard on Friday night.
• The Wild was thoroughly entertained when Pierre-Marc Bouchard dropped his gloves for his first career NHL fight on Friday. Here is Michael Russo’s final Q and A of the season.
• The Oilers pulled out yesterday’s must-win contest versus the Flames last night, writes Joanne Ireland. The Oilers just don’t know how to quit, writes Terry Jones.
• Peter Forsberg apparently ran “out of gas” on Friday night versus the Oilers and that is why he did not play in overtime or the shootout. Here are the opinions of the Denver Post writers about the Avalanche.

Here are the Central Division morning papers:

• If the Wings clinch the President’s Trophy today, Mike Babcock says he will rest his star players for the playoffs. Dominik Hasek is expected to get the start in net today for the Wings.
• If the Predators want to defeat the Red Wings today, they are going to have to stay out of the box, writes John Glennon. In injury news, the Predators will be without enforcer Darcy Hordichuk for at least the next two games with sprained MCL.
• Ken Hitchcock is having a difficult time dealing with missing the playoffs, writes Tom Reed.
• It was a physical game as fans expected but the Blues continued their losing ways last versus Chicago.
• The Blackhawks defeated the Blues last night and kept their very slim playoff hopes alive.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.

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