NHL Morning Papers (Tuesday Edition): Andy Murray doesn’t back down from his comments, Ryan Malone returns to Pittsburgh and a lasting friendship between Gretzky and Granato

Here are the morning papers for Tuesday the 23rd of December:

• In a theme not unfamiliar to the Ducks, the team took too many penalties in Vancouver last night and it led to 4-3 road loss.
• The effort wasn’t there from Atlanta in Monday night’s loss to Toronto, writes Mike Knobler.
• The Bruins still have no idea when Patrice Bergeron will be able to return to the lineup.  Right now, Blake Wheeler is only concerned about the Bruins’ success as a team and not about his own personal accomplishments.
• Even though they lost last night, Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller thinks the Sabres have certainly played improved hockey as of late.  Patrick Kaleta didn’t play on Monday but he told the press he isn’t suffering from a concussion.
• Not surprisingly, there is a lot of hype surrounding the debut of Brett Sutter tonight versus Anaheim.  If the Flames want to be thought of as a top team in the Western Conference, they have to start beating the top teams, says Andre Roy.
• The Hurricanes have started to become more comfortable with Paul Maurice’s style of coaching.
• Chicago Mayor Richard Daley scoped out the Winter Classic site on Monday.  Meanwhile, Hawks forward Adam Burish is champing at the bit to return from his big toe injury.
• Terry Frei of the Denver Post has a great article about the friendship between Tony Granato and Wayne Gretzky.  Andrew Raycroft will get the start for Colorado tonight versus Phoenix.  In other roster news, Marek Svatos is questionable for tonight’s tilt.
• The Blue Jackets are certainly going to miss Derick Brassard from the lineup, says coach Ken Hitchcock.  In other injury news, Rostislav Klesla is slated to return to the Jackets lineup tonight.  Here are the Jackets’ projected lines for tonight’s tilt with the King.
• Dallas rookie James Neal is happy to be back in the NHL in time to play in his hometown right before Christmas.
• Chris Osgood is going to test his groin this morning to see if he is going to head to the IR.
• Oilers grinder Zack Stortini set a great example last night as he was one of the main reasons the Oilers defeated Phoenix.  Edmonton’s power play was solid last night.  Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun provides his analysis of the Oilers so far this season.
• Put it this way,the Panthers are not exactly loaded with depth at center.
• The Wild will be without Marc-Andre Bergeron for a few weeks with a lower body injury.  The Wild is only focusing on Carolina tonight because after the team’s two-day Christmas break the schedule gets extremely difficult.
• “We’re right where we want to be,” says Habs coach Guy Carbonneau about his squad.
• The Predators have been solid lately but they have only scored a paltry 22 goals in the team’s last 12 games.
• Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek isn’t overly concerned about the economy’s effect on his franchise, writes Rich Chere.
• Islanders netminder Rick DiPietro returned to practice on Monday.
• Larry Brooks tells Rangers fans tha Scott Gomez needs to pick up his game.  Even though the team didn’t get Mats Sundin, the Rangers feel just fine about their squad.
• Senators defenseman Filip Kuba will sit out tonight’s game at Philadelphia with a lower body injury.
• The Flyers will be without Scottie Upshall for about the next two weeks with a knee sprain.
• Peter Mueller didn’t suit up for Phoenix last night because of a sore leg.
• Sidney Crosby finally broke out of his nine-game goal scoring slump in overtime last night at Buffalo.  The Penguins seemed to really enjoy taking the bus to Buffalo.  Ryan Whitney is really looking forward to making his season debut tonight.
• If the Sharks win tonight or lose in overtime/shootout, they will have been without a regulation loss for the 2008 portion of the 08/09 season.
• Andy Murray didn’t back down from his comments Sunday night about some of his players not bringing their “A” games.
• Ryan Malone makes his return to Pittsburgh tonight.  (Writer’s note: Don’t suppose he is regretting that decision…)  Even though he is struggling with his game, the Bolts players still look to Vincent Lecavalier to lead them.
• Justin Pogge wasn’t exactly challenged in his Leafs debut on Monday, as the team dominated Atlanta 6-2 at Philips Arena.  As for veteran Curtis Joseph and the talk of retirement, he still wants to play.
• The Canucks were not intimidated by the Ducks’ tactics last night and came away with an imporant 4-3 home victory.  The game was as chippy as it sounds.
• Bruce Boudreau won’t say there is a goalie controversy in Washington but it sure seems that way.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.