Here are the morning papers for Friday the 6th of March:
- All the newest Ducks are trying to get comfortable in their new surroundings. Randy Carlyle doesn’t want his team to lighten up, writes Curtis Zupke.
- A number of Thrashers were happy the trade deadline passed without them being moved.
- “It’s evident now that we are not winning hockey games because we are not playing the full 60 minutes,” said Bruins forward Milan Lucic. Both Mark Recchi and Steve Montador had a smooth transition into the Bruins lineup. With so much depth, players will have to earn their spots on the Bruins roster. The depth means players have to sit who probably don’t deserve to.
- The Sabres are hoping Dominic Moore gets his visa problems figured out, so they can get him in the lineup. Lindy Ruff only had good things to say about Ales Kotalik after he was traded.
- Olli Jokinen proved his worth early in last night’s game at Philadelphia with two first period goals. Things weren’t immediately smooth for Jokinen, as his first two shifts were difficult. Daniel Carcillo, now of the Flyers, doesn’t think Olli Jokinen is unreasonably tough on younger players. Don’t forget Jordan Leopold’s return, as the former Flame came back and scored a goal upon his return.
- Erik Cole is back in Carolina and, to most, it feels like he never left, writes Chip Alexander.
- The Avalanche organization is not raising any ticket prices for next season, and is dropping some prices as well.
- The Blackhawks know they are playoff bound, so they want to be playing a high level come mid-April.
- The Blue Jackets can’t beat Nashville in Nashville, writes Aaron Portzline. Antoine Vermette missed last night’s game because of visa problems, but is expected to play in Detroit on Saturday.
- The Stars blew a late-game 4-2 lead and lost to Los Angeles 5-4 in overtime. Dave Tippett really likes Fabian Brunnstrom’s game. Jere Lehtinen won’t play tonight against Anaheim with an upper-body injury.
- The Red Wings are loving the production they have been getting recently from Tomas Kopecky and Kris Draper.
- “It was just a casual, casual game. It looked like it was a summer hockey game, the way they were moving the puck,” said Oilers coach Craig MacTavish after his team’s horrible 4-2 loss to Ottawa. The Oilers defense wasn’t very good last night. Ales Hemsky and Ales Kotalik are really excited to be playing together.
- The game went south quickly for the Panthers last night against Pittsburgh, writes George Richards. Nick Boynton didn’t play last night, instead his spot was taken by newly acquired Steve Eminger. If it is all about now, Jay Bouwmeester is the solution.
- The Kings came back last night, in what the Daily News is calling “one of the most incredible comebacks in Kings’ history.” Newcomer Justin Williams is hoping to be in the Kings lineup within the next week or two.
- Never mind the Kings, the Wild “staged one of the most improbable comebacks you’d ever imagine,” writes Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. Kurtis Foster decided to hold off on making his return to the NHL at the place where he broke his leg.
- Guy Carbonneau put his troops through a punishing no pucks skate yesterday, writes Pat Hickey. Mathieu Dandenault is doing his best to maintain a positive attitude as he continues to find himself a healthy scratch.
- Since Brendan Shanahan signed on with the Devils, the team has been 17-4. Niclas Havelid is very excited about being a Devil and having a chance to play in the playoffs.
- The Islanders actually outplayed the Rangers last night, but they had a couple unlucky plays and fell 4-2 to their cross-city rivals.
- Nikolai Zherdev was impressive in his team’s victory last night. Apparently Sean Avery is exactly what the Rangers needed. John Tortorella gave his new team a good pep talk during the second intermission.
- Jason Spezza was easily the best player on the ice on Thursday night in Ottawa. Seems like Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli are happy to be Ottawa Senators.
- “It looked like men against boys,” said Flyers coach John Stevens about his team’s game versus Calgary last night. Daniel Briere aggravated his groin injury again yesterday. Daniel Carcillo wants Philly fans to know he can score too.
- Shane Doan is wrongly blaming himself for the Coyotes’ struggles.
- The Penguins are on a complete roll right now and Sidney Crosby’s return only helped last night. Eric Staal is one of the Penguins untouchables.
- Dan Boyle says the Sharks are missing a “killer instinct.” Evgeni Nabokov didn’t play last night because of a lower-body injury. In his place, Brian Boucher let in a horrible goal.
- For some odd reason, the Bolts are appealing the Steve Downie suspension. Apparently it starts now for Tampa.
- Martin Gerber stood on his head in his Maple Leafs debut last night. The rumors of Ponikarovsky to Nashville were erroneous.
- Kevin Bieksa is happy to be a Canuck and is probably playing the best hockey of his career, writes Jason Botchford. Kyle Wellwood is happy to still be with the Canucks.
- The Capitals are pressing right now, says coach Bruce Boudreau. For fans wanting the Capitals to do something at the deadline, coach Boudreau reminds them that this isn’t the same team as last year.