Friday Morning NHL Papers (Eastern Conference): Lou Lamoriello not a fan of NHL taking part in Olympics, Jamal Mayers comments on Mike Danton interview and the losing streak in Carolina

Atlantic Division

• Lou Lamoriello is not a fan of the NHL taking a break in the season to take part in the Olympics.  The Devils made it 9-0 on the road last night with a win over the injury-riddled Penguins.  Martin Brodeur thinks he should have had a shutout last night.
• “We were bad defensively,” said Rangers coach John Tortorella after his team’s 5-3 loss to Atlanta.  Some of the Rangers players were completely overworked last night, writes Larry Brooks.  At least Henrik Lundqvist returned to the net last night.
• Daniel Briere and James Van Riemsdyk returned from injury and made an impact in Ray Emery first game against his former Ottawa teammates.  The Flyers have the best power play in the NHL.  Just how nasty is Chris Pronger?
• You know things are bad in Pittsburgh when the team loses 4-1 but can take solace that they didn’t get shutout again.  Brooks Orpik is out two weeks but the Penguins are happy about that because the injury was initially feared to be worse.  In great news, Evgeni Malkin may play on Saturday.

Northeast Division

• “This game, for anybody who watched it, if they didn’t know the final score, they probably would have said that it was our game. We were the better team out there,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien after his team’s 1-0 loss at home to Florida.  The team cannot score but Tim Thomas is still giving them a chance to win every night.  Injured Bruins forward Milan Lucic wants to return next Thursday.
• Ryan Miller may be a goalie, but he is still concerned about head shots.  Mike Grier is questionable for tonight’s game with a groin injury.
• The Habs’ special teams was perfect which was the main reason the team defeated Phoenix 4-2 last night.  Meanwhile, Tomas Plekanec is proving he can be a number one center in the NHL, writes Pat Hickey.
• “He didn’t look comfortable on a couple of those, for sure,” said Senators coach Cory Clouston about Pascal Leclaire’s poor play on Thursday at Philadelphia.  Ray Emery wasn’t under the same pressure in last night’s game as Leclaire but he was happy to win nonetheless.  It is odd these days, but Jason Spezza uses a wooden stick.
• Vesa Toskala gets the start for Toronto tonight against the Blackhawks.  With Mike Komisarek out for about three weeks, Ian White has been moved up to pair with Tomas Kaberle.  Jamal Mayers was troubled by Mike Danton’s Sportsnet interview.

Southeast Division

• Ilya Kovalchuk did actually play for Atlanta last night and played quite well.
• Things are so bad in Carolina, former Winnipeg Jet Morris Lukowich is being interviewed about how to deal with long losing streaks.
• Florida has Tomas Vokoun to thank for its two points in the standings last night.  Michael Frolik has struggled this season but coach Peter DeBoer is encouraged that he’s willing to work through it.
• In quite an exciting game, the Lightning came back from a 3-1 deficit to stay unbeaten on home ice.  Coach Rick Tocchet wants the instigator rule eliminated in an attempt to eliminate head shots.  Meanwhile, Victor Hedman returned to the lineup last night.
• Boy has Tomas “Flash” Fleischmann had a big effect on the Capitals since his return from injury.

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