Here are the morning papers for Thursday the 5th of February (Also, I apologize for the late posting the past two days but I’m under the weather, so I’m trying to get a little more sleep to get better.):
- “We didn’t seem to engage in the game emotionally, and then we got frustrated,” said coach Randy Carlyle after his team’s 3-0 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.
- Nathan Oystrick is proving himself to teammates in Atlanta.
- The Bruins continued to roll last night with a 3-1 victory over the Flyers. Are the Bruins interested in acquiring Erik Cole?
- The Sabres are rounding into form in Buffalo, as they dominated the lowly Leafs 5-0 at the HSBC Arena on Wednesday.
- The Flames know they have a challenge on their hands tonight with the Blackhawks coming to town. Mike Keenan had no problem with Darryl Sutter addressing his troops in the dressing room on Tuesday. Predictions for tonight’s game from the Calgary Herald.
- After a tough loss at Vancouver, it doesn’t get any easier for the Canes, as the Sharks are next up on the schedule. Not only are the playing San Jose, but they are doing so without the injury Rod Brind’Amour.
- The Blackhawks know they have to improve on the having the second worst face-off winning percentage in the NHL.
- It looks like the Blue Jackets are interested in acquiring a center, writes Aaron Portzline.
- If Marek Svatos continues to play confidently, the Avalanche will be in far better shape. Similar to the team’s game against the Flames, coach Tony Granato is stressing physical play when his team faces the Stars tonight. Steve Mason is getting the night off on Friday against Pittsburgh.
- Mike Heika wonders if Marty Turco will play three games in four nights over the weekend.
- Nicklas Lidstrom bailed the Wings out with a last minute game-winner, after the Coyotes pulled a surprising comeback on the road. Coach Mike Babcock thought the game should have ended 4-2 but Chris Osgood wasn’t sharp.
- The word on Lubomir Visnovsky’s injury is not good, as the slick defenseman could very well be out for the remainder of the season. Dustin Penner knows he has to build his confidence back on the fourth line. Shawn Horcoff is taking a ton of face-offs in Edmonton.
- Craig Anderson may very well get the start tonight for Florida.
- Jacques Lemaire had a good feeling about his squad on Wednesday, and that feeling was obviously correct, writes Michael Russo. Also of note from Minnesota, Marian Gaborik is ahead of schedule in his rehab.
- Guillaume Latendresse is making sure he doesn’t get too down after he was knocked out of the lineup for about six weeks.
- Pekka Rinne has become the man for Nashville. The Predators have also turned it around thanks to their new top line.
- The Devils aren’t over-thinking the team’s loss to Washington, writes Mark Everson.
- With four wins in a row, the Islanders are starting to gain confidence and an identity.
- Yesterday, the Rangers had to skate their first punishment practice since Tom Renney took over. That wasn’t Renney’s initial plan, writes Steve Zipay.
- Mike Fisher says the Senators won’t accept losing.
- It looks like the Philadelphia Phantoms organization is on its way out of the Philadelphia area. The Flyers lost again last night and Rich Hofmann is worried about the team’s losing trend.
- Gary Bettman denies there are problems in Phoenix.
- Evegni Malkin may have saved the Penguins season on Wednesday with his three-point effort. Meanwhile, Sergei Gonchar may comeback sooner than expected.
- The Sharks may very well get Dan Boyle back in the lineup tonight versus Carolina.
- The Lightning somehow blew a late 3-0 lead on the road last night in Pittsburgh. Meantime, Bolts GM Brian Lawton was upset with his team for a different reason. Jussi Jokinen has been waived again.
- The Leafs were terrible in Buffalo but Justin Pogge wasn’t, writes Mark Zwolinski. Mikhail Grabovski was a healthy scratch last night.
- Jason Botchford thinks the Canucks season depends on Roberto Luongo. Canucks GM Mike Gillis likes control and doesn’t mind the pressure.
- The Capitals are hard to stop at home. Mike Green has to be in contention for the Norris Trophy.
