Monday Morning NHL Papers (Western Conference): Jonathan Toews makes push for Olympic team, Barret Jackman wants to smack some sense into his teammates and the reasons the Coyotes won’t fade this season

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Central Division

• Patrick Kane was knocked out of last night’s game for the Hawks and his vision is slightly impaired, but coach Joel Quenneville thinks he will play on Wednesday.  Meanwhile, Antti Niemi recorded his third shutout in seven starts this season.  Jonathan Toews is making his Team Canada push, explains Tim Sassone.
• The Blue Jackets are having trouble pinpointing why they’ve struggled so far this season.  Derek Dorsett is out for four weeks.  Here are the Blue Jackets’ projected lines for tonight’s game.
• Some goaltending duos create an unhealthy relationship but Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood get a long very well.  The Wings may be struggling overall this season but Mike Babcock has no complaints about his team’s work ethic.
• So far this season, Kevin Klein is doing a good job replacing the lost ice-time and production of the departed Greg Zanon.
• Blues defenseman Barret Jackman is losing his patience with his team’s play and brought some serious intensity to practice yesterday.

Northwest Division

• Brent Sutter was certainly unhappy after his team was outplayed by the Avalanche last night in Denver, writes Randy Sportak.  Brent Sutter said he and the other coaches thought the game was important, but he wondered why the players looked like they didn’t.
• Who would have thought the Avalanche would be leading the Northwest Division on Decemeber 14th?  The Avs won last night without Milan Hejduk and Marek Svatos.  Meantime, Adrian Dater of the Denver Post profiles Manitoba Moose veteran forward and former Avalanche winger Mike Keane.
• Pat Quinn is seeing some improvement positionally and it is probably no coincidence that the team’s five-game winning streak is coming at the same time.
• It appears that all the Minnesota Wild players and coaches needed was some time to get to know each other, as the team has been streaking after its poor start, writes Michael Russo.

Pacific Division

• If the Ducks want to climb back into the playoff picture, they are going to have to win on the road, explains Eric Stephens of the OC Register.
• In Dallas, Jere Lehtinen is focusing on the now and worrying about the rest later.
• With Wayne Simmonds about to undergo surgery, the Kings are slated to head out on the road and Ryan Smyth won’t be accompanying them.
• Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic explains why this season’s Coyotes are less inclined to drop off in the second half like last season’s Coyotes did.
• In the Bay Area, the Sharks’ Dan Boyle is listed as being day-to-day with an injury.

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