NHL Morning Papers (Sunday Edition): No word on Gaborik’s return, Sabres should deal Afinogenov and more Sundin talk

Here are the morning papers for Sunday the 23rd of November:

• Sure the Flames looked good against the Avalanche this week but last night’s game against Detroit was a different kind of test and Calgary just could not match up with the defending Stanley Cup champions.  The Flames know they still have lots to work on if they want to be up there with teams like Detroit and San Jose.  Darren McCarty loves playing hockey but his past experiences have put the game into the proper perspective for him, writes Steve Macfarlane.
• The Blackhawks stormed back from a 3-0 deficit on Hockey Night in Canada and ended up defeating the Leafs 5-4 in overtime.  So far, Cristobal Huet has handled his lack of playing time with a great attitude.
• The Avalanche lost both Adam Foote and Wojtek Wolski to injury last night in Los Angeles, but did find a way to leave the Staples Center with two points.  Speaking of injuries, Joe Sakic did not suit up for the Avalanche on Saturday because of his bad back.
• Both Sam Gagner and Lubomir Visnovsky left Oilers practice yesterday with injuries.  Coach Craig MacTavish isn’t panicking that the Oilers are hovering around .500.
• Wild coach Jacques Lemaire does not know when Marian Gaborik will return to the Wild line-up.  While the date of Gaborik’s return is in question, assistant GM Tom Lynn says Gaborik won’t return until he’s 100%.  On the ice, the Wild can’t score and that was apparent again last night, as the team lost 2-1 to St. Louis.
• The Habs are having trouble scoring goals, especially on the power play, and that cost them on Saturday night, writes Pat Hickey.  Dave Stubbs recaps Patrick Roy night in Montreal.
• The Senators finally ended their six-game losing skid on Saturday afternoon versus the Rangers.  Here are Bruce Garrioch’s Sunday rumors, including the pressure on the Habs to make a move for Mats Sundin.
• The Canucks won in Pittsburgh but lost their most important player, Roberto Luongo, to a groin injury.  Luongo’s injury appeared to be more serious than minor.  Injuries aside, Ben Kuzma believes selflessness has been one of the main reasons for Vancouver’s success.
• Jonas Hiller had a bounce back game for Anaheim, as the Ducks defeated Dallas 2-1 on Saturday night.
• When you record only 15 shots on net at home like Atlanta did last night versus Columbus, you just aren’t going to win.  At least Todd White returned to the Thrashers line-up yesterday.
• The Bruins didn’t allow the Habs’ late goal to get them down, and came back with a 3-2 shootout victory at the Bell Centre.  Here is Kevin Paul Dupont’s must-read Sunday morning column.
• Sabres forward Tim Connolly has a broken rib and will be out of the team’s line-up for a few weeks.  Bucky Gleason is calling for changes to the Sabres’ roster, including the need to trade Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly.
• When the Hurricanes and Predators play today, they will both be without players who bolted for Russia while under NHL contracts, writes Javier Serna.
• The Blue Jackets got back to playing “Blue Jackets hockey” last night in Atlanta and recorded a 2-0 victory.  Coach Ken Hitchcock opted to put both Derek Dorsett and Jared Boll in the team’s line-up last night for extra energy.
• Brenden Morrow is hoping to return to the line-up earlier than his initial six month projection.  The Stars lost again last night, and know they have to work together to get out of the big hole they’ve dug themselves.
• The Wings scored a couple late third period goals and got out of Calgary with a 5-2 victory, writes Helene St. James.  Detroit didn’t let the fact that they blew a 2-0 lead discourage them.
• The Panthers have waived Wade Belak.
• The Kings have been playing well, but last night’s loss to Colorado was a reminder that they have to be on top of their game if they want to win.
• It looks like John Madden may not dress for the Devils today versus Tampa.
• It has been an up-and-down first quarter of the season in Long Island but things are headed in the right direction, writes Greg Logan.
• “We didn’t deserve at all to be in that game,” said Markus Naslund after his team’s 4-1 loss at Ottawa.  Yesterday was Wade Redden’s return to Ottawa and he was given a video tribute that clearly touched him. Larry Brooks says Mats Sundin won’t end up in Tampa Bay like Len Barrie has been telling people.
• The Flyers put together a late third period rally over Phoenix to make it four wins a row, writes Sam Carchidi.
• At the quarter point of the season, the Penguins have proven they are still contenders, writes Dave Molinari.  The Penguins had a first period mini-brawl with the Canucks on Saturday afternoon, but it did nothing to rally the troops.  If the Penguins were going to beat the Canucks, they had to challenge back up netminder Curtis Sanford in the first two periods.
• The Sharks handled the Capitals quite easily last night, recording a dominant 7-2 home victory.
• Brad Boyes broke out of his goal-scoring slump to score the Blues’ only two goals in their victory at Minnesota on Saturday.  Blues rookie Patrik Berglund missed last night’s game and remains day-to-day with a groin injury.
• Lightning netminder Mike Smith has some nagging injuries and won’t start today versus New Jersey.  Damian Cristodero thinks Barry Melrose was fired because he wasn’t the coach for these times.
• The Leafs blew a 3-0 lead at home to Chicago on Saturday, writes Paul Hunter.  Sure Wendel Clark was great, but Rose Dimanno believes last night’s ceremony might exhibit a deeper problem in Leaf-land.
• The Capitals got a taste of just how good the Sharks are on Saturday night, as they weren’t in the game for long.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.