NHL Morning Papers (Saturday Edition): Hemsky still has headaches, Gaborik and Wild management not seeing eye-to-eye on surgery decision and Bryan Murray is working the phones

Here are the morning papers for Saturday the 3rd of January:

• Here is Eric Duhatschek’s Saturday notes column.
• The Ducks lost to Philadelphia at the Honda Center last night night but Randy Carlyle was happy with his team’s effort level.
• Erik Christensen scored a big shootout goal last night to lead the Thrashers to victory over visiting Vancouver.
• Claude Julien’s move of Milan Lucic to the Bruins’ “third line” has worked wonders so far.  The Bruins’ “second line” isn’t so bad either.
• If you were wondering, Lindy Ruff isn’t going anywhere in Buffalo, writes Bucky Gleason.  In other news, the Sabres have sent Nathan Gerbe back to Portland of the AHL.
• After a very successful homestand, the Flames try to take their show on the road.  The Flames are frontrunners in the Northwest Division, writes Randy Sportak.  Robyn Regehr is expected to suit up for the Flames this afternoon after not practicing with the club yesterday.  Are injuries going to force Rhett Warrener to retire?
• The Hurricanes need Cam Ward to be a consistent force in between the pipes if the playoffs are a realistic possibility.  The Canes picked up an ugly victory at home yesterday versus St. Louis.
• The Winter Classic hype is behind them, so now the Hawks have to move forward and learn from their two losses to Detroit.
• The Avalanche broke Steve Mason’s shutout streak last night, but that was the night’s high point as they subsequently allowed six consecutive goals.  Tony Granato is certainly not afraid to mix up his lines right now in an effort to increase team scoring.
• The Blue Jackets gave Steve Mason an easy night, as the team finally ramped up its offense and cruised to an easy victory in Denver.  It appears the Blue Jackets have been scouting the Maple Leafs and Islanders very closely.  Here are the Blue Jackets’ projected lines for tonight’s game versus the Blues.
• Brad Richards has really seemed to regain his old form as of late, writes Mike Heika.
• Chris Osgood will start tonight for Detroit versus Minnesota, and Henrik Zetterberg is expected to play even though he has a sore groin.  If you are interested in television ratings, the Michigan State Spartans outdrew the Red Wings in the Detroit area on January 1st.  Wings forward Tomas Kopecky was disappointed he was scratched for the Winter Classic but understood why.
• Ales Hemsky (concussion) doesn’t seem to be anywhere close to a return in Edmonton.  Meanwhile, Marc Pouliot is a little bit ahead of Hemsky in terms of recovery.  Terry Jones has new years resolutions for each Edmonton player.
• It looks like the Panthers will open 2009/10 in Prague.  Meanwhile, Panthers coach Peter DeBoer pulled his goalies aside yesterday for a meeting.
• Patrick Reusse isn’t impressed with the Wild management and its handling of most everything since the summer.  There is clealry a serious discord between Marian Gaborik and Wild management.
• Jaroslav Halak didn’t have his “A” game in New Jersey last night and the Habs fell to the Devils 4-1.
• Steve Sullivan’s comeback is looking more real by the day.  Meantime, Ryan Suter is really coming into his own for Nashville.
• Scott Clemmensen continued his terrific play yesterday in his team’s 4-1 win over the Habs.  Who needs strength down the middle when you have left wingers like the Devils do on their roster?
• There were a few milestones for the Islanders last night in Phoenix, but none of them resulted in a victory.
• The Rangers’ second half will begin in fashion with a tough test versus the Ovechkin-led Capitals.  The Rangers are hoping their extended rest will be an asset.
• Bryan Murray continues to talk trade and there is word that one of his two first round picks is up for grabs.
• The Flyers were once 12 points behind the Rangers for first spot in the Atlantic Division, this morning the two teams are tied.
• They almost blew a couple leads but Wayne Gretzky was just happy his Coyotes recorded the victory against the Islanders on Friday.  David Hale was in the lineup again last night for Phoenix. 
• The bottom line for the Penguins is that they need to improve at home.  Sergei Gonchar remains at least over a month away from returning to the Penguins lineup.
• Milan Michalek has impressed the Sharks coaches as of late with his aggressive play.
• The Blues haven’t received the goaltending that is necessary for a team of their skill level to compete for the playoffs.  That, and it sure doesn’t help that the team continues to incur injury after injury after injury.
• Jamie Heward didn’t think Alexander Ovechkin’s hit on him was dirty.  As for Heward himself, he is a little groggy but feeling alright.
• Leafs coach Ron Wilson has challenged his team’s veterans to step up their game.  John Mitchell gets a shot at top line duty tonight for Toronto.
• The Canucks registed a point in Atlanta last night but couldn’t win the shootout.  Mattias Ohlund left yesterday’s game with an upper-body injury.
• You shouldn’t expect Alexander Ovechkin to get suspended for his hit on Jamie Heward.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.