NHL Morning Papers (Wednesday Edition)

Here are the national morning papers:

• Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail tells readers that John Ferguson Jr.’s job is safe for now.
• Signing Miikka Kiprusoff to a long-term extension will allow the Flames to shift their focus to extending a couple more of their key players coming up on free agency writes Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail.
• Age is not a factor for the teens playing in the NHL this season writes Kevin Allen of USA Today.

Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:

• After last night’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Habs, the Thrashers are no longer the worst team in the Southeast Division anymore writes Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thrashers’ coach Don Waddell is more concerned with winning hockey games than getting his rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec into a game.
• It looks like youngster Phil Kessel will replace the injured Patrice Bergeron and center the Bruins’ second line. During Bruins’ practice yesterday, goaltender Manny Fernandez sprained his knee and will now be out for an unknown period of time.
• The Sabres need to start getting some production from their top powerplay unit writes John Vogl in this morning’s Buffalo News.
• The Hurricanes have been extremely happy with the rejuvenated play of defenseman Bret Hedican to start the season.
• The Panthers and Hurricanes meet for the first time tonight and the Panthers players haven’t forgotten their angry rants after last season about the Canes’ penchant for diving.
• Carey Price started his first game at home for the Habs and was terrific, however, his teammates did not match his quality of play and the Canadiens lost in a shootout to the Thrashers. Meantime, Habs’ coach Guy Carboeneau thinks the NHL needs to change its rule that allows for a player in the penalty box at the end of overtime to be allowed to partake in the shootout.
• Devils’ forward Dainius Zubrus has been demoted to the third line right winger role by coach Brent Sutter.
• As Larry Brooks writes in this morning’s NY Post, one of these days Rangers’ back-up Stephen Valiquette has to get into a game, doesn’t he? Meanwhile, coach Tom Renney won’t tip his hand as to what will happen with Nigel Dawes when a number of the Rangers’ forwards return from injury.
• With all this time off early in the season, the Senators are getting on each other’s nerves writes Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. It appears that Nick Foligno will be the odd-man out once Dean McAmmond is ready to return from injury.
• While Simon Gagne may not be ready to return from his concussion for the Flyers’ next game versus Montreal, winger Scottie Upshall is ready to return from injury for the game versus the Habs.
• The Penguins, on the back of superstar Sidney Crosby, started off their road trip on the right foot with a 4-2 victory of the Wild in Minnesota last night.
• The Lightning are ready to put an end to their four-game road losing streak writes Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune.
• Ownership can’t just react to the Leaf fans’ displeasure says the President of MLSE Richard Peddie. The Leafs only wish they had the AHL Marlies’ success right now writes Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun.

Here are the Western Conference morning papers:

• It appears that both Ryan Getlzaf and Rob Niedermayer will return from injuries for the Ducks’ game Thursday when they host the Blue Jackets.
• Signing a long-term, big money contract only made Miikka Kiprusoff play better last night as the Flames dominated the Predators en route to a 5-1 victory. Last night was quite a thrill for Eric Nystrom as the son of former Islanders’ great Bobby, scored his first ever NHL goal.
• Sometimes being a healthy scratch serves a good purpose, as evidenced by the recent play of Jim Vandermeer.
• Wojtek Wolski has been promoted to top two-line play in Colorado and has taken the spot of veteran Andrew Brunette who has been demoted.
• The Blue Jackets have two centers in Michael Peca and Manny Malhotra who dominate in the faceoff circle writes Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch. Here are the Blue Jackets’ projected lines heading into tonight’s contest.
• Bill Nichols of the Dallas Morning News has the story of Stars’ defenseman Matt Niskanen who grew up cheering on the Stars as a native of Minnesota.
• Valtteri Filppula scored a beauty down the right wing with only 25 seconds remaining to give the Wings a 2-1 victory over the Oilers on Tuesday night.
• Dick Tarnstrom feels like he lost the game for the Oilers after he was victimized on Filppula’s rush at game’s end. Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal wonders if the Oilers have a goalie debate on their hands. On the injury front, defenseman Joni Pitkanen had successful surgery but still expects to be out of the lineup for the next 3-4 weeks.
• Dustin Brown is excited about the Kings future, which is one of the reasons he re-upped for a six year term.
• Michael Russo of the Star Tribune opines that Crosby and Malkin were worth the price of admission last night in St. Paul.
• The Predators remain winless on the road after last night’s debacle in Calgary. After the game, coach Barry Trotz would not commit to keeping Chris Mason as his starting netminder.
• The Coyotes showed some spirit last night going into St. Louis and stealing a third period victory from the hands of the Blues writes Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic.
• The Blues got outworked last night according to head coach Andy Murray.
• Canucks’ GM Dave Nonis has seen some positives and negatives to start the season writes Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.