- Erik Christensen is a talented offensive player who has been a healthy scratch more often than not this season, but he is not letting that affect his work ethic, writes Curtis Zupke.
- Both Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikolai Antropov missed practice for Atlanta yesterday.
- The Bruins are hoping that Dennis Wideman will return to the lineup after the weekend.
- Michael Ryder moves up to the Bruins’ first line tonight to play alongside Marc Savard.
- Thomas Vanek’s injury wasn’t as serious as initially believed, but he still is not expected to play this weekend, writes Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.
- The Flames have a veteran core, so it means that time is a tickin’ on a chance to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup.
- If the Flames want to create more offense, they have to go to the net.
- In Carolina, some Hurricanes players really enjoy the shootout. (Writer’s note: I hate the shootout and always will. It really has no place in the game and is a gimmicky end to a hard fought game.)
- With his job seemingly hanging in the balance, Cristobal Huet played a solid game in net for Chicago last night against Nashville. (Writer’s note: I said it before the season and I’ll say it again, I’m not sold the Hawks’ goaltending.)
- Ryan O’Reilly scored the winning goal for Colorado in Montreal only a few months after being selected in the same building at the NHL Entry Draft.
- Chris Stewart and T.J. Hensick were healthy scratches again for the Avs last night.
- Mathieu Roy is getting a chance to prove himself in Columbus because of injuries to his defensemen teammates.
- Mike Commodore is getting close to finally returning to the Blue Jackets lineup.
- So far, so good for Marc Crawford’s new aggressive style in Dallas, writes Mike Heika.
- Mike Babcock says his best forward this season has been Valterri Filppula.
- The Wings looked like a different team last night against Los Angeles, as the team not only won, but saw Nicklas Lidstrom record his 1000th NHL point.
- Even with last night’s win, the Red Wings have had a slow start to the season, so Mike Babcock is relying on some veterans to stabilize the team.
- “There’s a thousand stats and the one I look at the most is chances, for and against,” said Oilers coach Pat Quinn in a comment that should satisfy some of Oilers Nation.
- Jim Matheson tells us that tonight’s Oilers opponent, the Minnesota Wild, is a team in transition.
- Former UND Sioux defenseman Taylor Chorney has been thrown into the fire in Edmonton. (Writer’s note: Chorney still needs some work defensively but has the skill set to contribute in certain ways like moving the puck and closing gaps with his speed.)
- Peter DeBoer has demoted Cory Stillman to the Panthers’ third line.
- In other Panthers news, Scott Clemmensen gets his first start for Florida tonight.
- Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns have been putting too much pressure on themselves in Minnesota, and it has led to increased struggles, writes Michael Russo.
- A late goal against spoiled what was a good effort from the Canadiens in the team’s home opener, writes Pat Hickey.
- “The only ones who are going to get us out of this is us,” said Predators coach Barry Trotz after his team’s fourth straight loss.
- The Predators have had trouble scoring goals for a while now, so they need to get their power play in order if they want to help change that.
- There have been some line changes in New Jersey.
- With all the attention of TSN’s broadcast on Dany Heatley, Milan Michalek proved his worth with a hat trick on national television.
- Meanwhile, coach Cory Clouston has some decisions to make with his roster for the weekend.
- The Flyers have been off for seemingly weeks, so the team is jacked up to play back-to-back games this weekend.
- The fans that did show up in Phoenix were subject to quite an entertaining victory, writes Jim Gintonio.
- Well, don’t worry about a lack of fans with the Coyotes’ latest promotion that gives fans a free ticket if the team wins.
- Penguins fans ask where Chris Bourque fits into the team’s plans?
- Late pickup Martin Skoula is biding his time waiting in Pittsburgh.
- Evgeni Nabokov had not allowed a goal by Alexander Ovechkin, well that was until last night, as the sniper almost single-handedly defeated the Sharks.
- “A step in the right direction, but we still weren’t as strong,” said Blues forward David Backes after last night’s overtime loss in Phoenix.
- Meantime, Andy Murray is trying not to overcoach in St. Louis.
- Mike Smith’s number one job in Tampa Bay is not overly secure.
- The Lightning was anything but impressive last night in Ottawa.
- Damien Cox attempt to calm down Leafs Nation.
- With all the team’s struggles, the Leafs are being encouraged to just relax and have some fun.
- Coach Alain Vigneault wants more out of his team’s fourth line.
- The Canucks, especially Roberto Luongo, are not panicking so early in the season.
- The Capitals got back on track last night on the back of the team’s two best players.
- Gary Bettman still wants Wayne Gretzky involved in the game of hockey.