NHL Morning Papers (Saturday Edition)

Here are the Western Conference morning papers:

• Dan Wood of the Orange County Register profiles the still icy relationship between Ducks’ GM Brian Burke and Oilers’ GM Kevin Lowe.
• The Flames lost 3-2 to the Avs last night in overtime and much of the blame for the loss was channelled toward referee Mick McGeough. Meanwhile, winger Ryan Smyth was happy for a couple days off between the Avs’ games in Edmonton and Calgary because it allowed for time to rejuvenate himself after his emotional return to Edmonton. As usual, Jarome Iginla is quick to deflect all the the praise he has received for his hot start and give credit to his teammates.
• David Koci has the respect of his teammates after fighting Zdeno Chara with a broken nose but his reward is a trip to the injured list.
• Avs’ defenseman Jordan Leopold will be lost to the team for two months after undergoing surgery on his wrist.
• The Blue Jackets are trying not to get too up or too down this season writes Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch. After sitting out practice yesterday, Nikolai Zherdev is expected to be in the Jackets’ lineup for tonight’s game against the Sharks. Here are the Blue Jackets’ probable lines for tonight’s game.
• Mike Modano has been demoted to the fourth line in Dallas writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
• Chris Osgood didn’t exactly have a lot of action as the Wings dominated the Sharks in a 5-1 victory. In other Wings’ news, Igor Grigorenko has left the team to play in Russia.
• Dustin Penner knows he won’t be getting a video tribute when he returns to Anaheim today writes Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.
• Dustin Brown has signed a six-year contract extension with the Kings, and if some readers are wondering if it is too early to give Brown a six-year deal, Kings’ GM Dean Lombardi says, “This is just a function of the way the system is.”
• Jacques Lemaire doesn’t play Derek Boogard, not because he doesn’t believe in him, but rather, he doesn’t trust the referees to treat him fairly.
• Even though Tomas Vokoun may not be starting in net tonight in his first return to Nashville, he expects the night to be emotional nonetheless.
• Niko Kapanen has found a groove in Phoenix writes Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic. (Writer’s note: More importantly, he is the Coyotes’ leading scorer with 5 points!!!)
• The Sharks’ 5-1 loss to the Red Wings was an embarrassing performance writes David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News. Here is some additional news on the progress of Sandis Ozolinsh.
• St. Louis is excited to get its first look at superstar Alexander Ovechkin tonight as the Blues host the Capitals.
• In a battle of superstars, Roberto Luongo got the best of Alexander Ovechkin as the Canucks upended the Caps 3-2 in Washington. Last night’s victory allowed the Canucks to salvage their four-game road trip.

Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:

• The Capitals learned first-hand last night how difficult it is to beat Roberto Luongo once he gets a lead.
• Paul Maurice says media reports that some of the Leafs’ injuries are more serious than the organization has led on are untrue. Meanwhile, Maurice is not about to do anything to ruin the chemistry of the Steen–Stajan–Tlusty line.
• Bolts’ defenseman Dan Boyle is expected to return to the lineup next week.
• Flyers’ winger Sami Kapanen wanted to retire way back in 2004 but is now quite happy he decided not to writes Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer. In other Flyers’ news, Simon Gagne has not been cleared to return to the ice yet after sustaining a concussion at the hands of Jay Bouwmeester.
• John Jeansonne of Newsday discusses the reaction to the new Chris Simon piece in this week’s Sports Illustrated.
• While everyone is harping on their lack of offensive output, Chris Drury is very happy with the way the Rangers have played defensively writes John Dellapina of the New York Daily News.
• Even though Mark Recchi has been struggling, Michel Therrien has not moved the veteran off the team’s top-line alongside Sidney Crosby.
• Devils’ coach Brent Sutter ripped into winger Patrik Elias heading into the team’s home opener tonight at “the Rock.”
• Ondrej Pavelec will not get the chance to start his first NHL game in net for Atlanta tonight because coach Don Waddell has chosen Johan Hedberg for the start.
• Due to the number of injuries to their defense, the Sabres are looking into the possibility of signing veteran defenseman Nolan Pratt.
• Hurricanes’ winger Eric Cole is hoping to return to the lineup tonight, however, whether he plays pre-game soccer is another story.
• The Panthers blew the lead heading into the third period and were defeated by the Sabres 4-2 on Friday night.
• Tomas Plekanec was the story last night, as the Habs chased Cam Ward from the Carolina net and man-handled the Canes 7-4 in Raleigh.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.