Sunday Morning NHL Papers (Eastern Conference): Jason Spezza gets Don Cherry’s message in between periods, Kostitsyn trade rumors and the Lightning’s financial issues
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Atlantic Division
- “You never want to lose, but we have to be realistic. We’ve done really well without some key players,” said Martin Brodeur after his team’s 5-3 loss at Dallas. Jacques Lemaire is never one to play by the book, just as Matt Corrente.
- The Islanders’ road trip isn’t going as well as it was when it started, writes Katie Strang. Are any Islanders big-time NY bargains?
- “It (stinks). It’s a miserable time for us. But you have to stay with it and keep on coming to work and trying to fight your way through,” said John Tortorella after last night’s loss to Florida. The Rangers only got two goals last night and not surprisingly they were from Marian Gaborik or Vinny Prospal. Hopefully the Rangers will get some help soon from Chris Drury who skated for the first time on Saturday since his concussion. What is Brian Mullen up to these days?
- Flyers coach John Stevens generally goes by the mantra that good teams don’t lose two in a row but his team did just that the past two nights. In injury news, the Flyers have lost forward Blair Betts for a month. The Flyers have been the classic of example of a balanced offense, explains Sam Carchidi.
- Everyone came to see Crosby, Malkin and Kovalchuk in Atlanta last night but Martin Skoula was the star of the show, explains Dave Molinari. “The interest isn’t as crazy as it is, the more north you go. But, at the same time, the fans we do have here are pretty hardcore,” said former Penguins winger Colby Armstrong about the Thrashers fanbase.
Northeast Division
- “We took a couple penalties that we didn’t have to take. It gave them a little bit of momentum, then they carried it from there,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff after his team’s third straight game without a win. Since Dany Heatley’s departure, the Senators have become a four line team. In Bucky Gleason’s Inside the NHL he speaks of a rumor he hard that had Andrew Cogliano going to Montreal for Sergei Kostitsyn. (Writer’s note: Don’t expect the Oilers to trade Cogliano, but they may have interest in Kostitsyn.)
- The Habs lost 3-2 last night but coach Jacques Martin may have found a new line combination of Cammalleri-Kostitsyn-Plekanec.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun provides his usual Sunday rumors column. Meanwhile, Jason Spezza literally got Don Cherry’s message from Coach’s Corner between periods and took the suggestion to heart. The Senators won last night, but did lose Pascal Leclaire to injury, although the team thinks he will be alright. The injury is not the same for Shean Donovan who will be out of the lineup for six weeks.
- One win in Toronto helps but it probably won’t stop Brian Burke from making a move. For all the flack he receives, Vesa Toskala was sharp last night and deserves some credit. David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail speculates that changes could be coming in Toronto.
Southeast Division
- After his team’s 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh, Atlanta coach John Anderson said he doesn’t think his team believes in itself as much as it should. Rich Peverley leads the team in scoring and plays all over the forward lines.
- “We played like we’re capable of,” said Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu after his team’s second consecutive victory.
- The Panthers are flying right now, as the team swept its three-game road trip with a win at MSG. Shawn Matthias and Michael Repik were called up by the Cats on Saturday.
- In Tampa Bay, Mattias Ohlund’s ankle is still bothering him. Here’s five questions for Lightning winger Todd Fedoruk. Rick Tocchet has taken a liking to forward Zenon Konopka. Off the ice, the Lightning are still having financial trouble.
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