Here are the morning papers:
- The Predators may have reached rock bottom on Tuesday night after losing to Los Angeles 6-0. Their effort was so poor last night that the team called a closed door meeting immediately after the contest.
- It was a ridiculously easy victory for the Kings writes Lisa Dillman of the L.A. Times.
- The Penguins have scored three goals in their past two games and, due to some terrific goaltending, have two wins to show for their efforts.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post is wondering whether Brendan Shanahan is beginning to lose his scoring touch as he closes in on 39 years old. Meanwhile, team leader Jaromir Jagr doesn’t think the Rangers are getting enough quality scoring chances to be able to put up solid team goal-scoring totals.
- The Leafs have had a myriad of problems through the first ten games of the 2007/08 NHL season but goaltending has not been one of them writes Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail.
- After greeting Ryan Smyth with a video tribute, the Oilers decided to hand his Avalanche teammates a two goal lead after the first period and the Avs did not look back from there. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house last night writes Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. With all the Ryan Smyth distraction, defenseman Matieu Roy slipped into the Oilers‘ lineup under the radar due to an injury to Joni Pitkanen. While Mathieu Roy has found his way into the lineup, Ethan Moreau is champing at the bit to get back onto the ice.
- Ryan Smyth appreciated the reception he received from the fans last night writes Adrian Dater of the Denver Post. Jaroslav Hlinka scored goal last night and is giving his best effort to stay out of Joel Quenville’s doghouse.
- Former Duck Paul Kariya did in his former teammates last night helping the Blues to a 4-2 victory over the defending champion Ducks.
- As Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells us, Blues’ coach Andy Murray thought the Blues played well in all facets of the game last night. In other Blues’ news, defenseman Erik Johnson will be kept off the ice for the rest of this week to rest his foot.
- According to Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post, it is looking like Caps’ winger Alexander Semin will be in the lineup for tonight’s game versus the Lightning.
- Moral victories don’t usually add up to a playoff spot and that is a problem for this year’s version of the Maple Leafs writes Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star. Mats Sundin was furious after last night’s game about a no-call in the shootout on Thrashers’ goalie Johan Hedberg. After eight of their first ten games at home, the Leafs now have to take their show on the road. In other Leafs’ news, winger Tony Salmelainen has left the organization and returned home to Finland.
- Ilya Kovalchuk is emerging as a leader on the Thrashers and was tremendous last night against the Leafs, carrying his team to a 5-4 shootout victory. Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa have seen more time together since Don Waddell took over behind the bench. Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tells Thrashers’ fans to not give up on the idea of a Marian Hossa contract extension.
- Bruins’ coach Craig Julien wants his team to stop spreading out on offense so much and just go to the net. Winger Brandon Bochenski was demoted to the AHL yesterday.
- After reading Tony Dungy’s book this off-season, Sabres’ defenseman Brian Campbell knows that he has it within himself to do more.
- The Flames are trying to put their terrible performance versus the Sharks on Monday behind them. The Flames need to get back to playing with emotion according to head coach Mike Keenan.
- Hurricanes’ winger Chad LaRose started taking care of his body this off-season and the results are paying off writes Lorenzo Perez of the News Observer. Due to injuries, both Eric Cole and Andrew Ladd were unable to practice yesterday.
- Patrick Kane was tremendous for the Blackhawks last night, unfortunately his teammates didn’t follow suit as the Hawks lost 7-4 to the Blue Jackets.
- The Blue Jackets did a lot of things well last night in their victory over the Hawks said Jackets’ coach Ken Hitchcock.
- The Stars have to do a lot of travelling in the Western Conference, but at least they will be doing it in style after owner Tom Hicks bought the team a new 757 private jet.
- It looks like agent Don Meehan and Chris Chelios may be heading into a heated battle after Meehan issued “notices of libel” against Chris Chelios.
- The Panthers’ top defensive tandem of Jay Bouwmeester and Bryan Allen is a combined -12 on the season but both understand that only eight games have been played. Meanwhile, rookie Stefan Meyer is ecstatic that he is getting the chance to suit up in his first NHL game tonight as the Panthers take on the Flyers.
- The Islanders’ powerplay will feel the effects of this injury as Bryan Berard will be lost to the team’s lineup for 2-4 weeks with a groin injury.
- Even though they play eight times a year, a Devils/Rangers match up still means a lot writes Rich Chere of the Newark Star Ledger.
- Marcus Nilsson of the Flames thinks the most important job of a Wild opponent is getting the lead and making the Wild open up their style of play.
- Kevin Mio of the Montreal Gazette has a great one-on-one interview with Habs‘ winger Michael Ryder.
- Defenseman Zbynek Michalek is ready to return from the hand injury he sustained in practice and will play tomorrow night versus Anaheim.
- Antero Nittymaki will make his first start of the season tomorrow night versus the Lightning reports Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Needless to say, the Senators’ players would be quite excited if Peter Forsberg were added to their team.
For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.
