Here are the morning papers for Thursday the 12th of March:
- Scott Niedermayer has always been clutch, and he proved it again on Wednesday. The Ducks’ three trade acquisitions all played an important role in last night’s crucial overtime victory over the Canucks. Bob Murray flat out said that Randy Carlyle’s job is not in jeopardy in Anaheim.
- Mike Knobler of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an interview with Thrashers owner Bruce Levenson.
- Let’s just say Cam Neely would like to see the Bruins players stick up for goaltender Tim Thomas next time he gets run. Both Phil Kessel and David Krejci missed Bruins practice yesterday.
- Richard Zednik returns to Buffalo today, for the first time since his scary injury last season, writes Bucky Gleason.
- It has been an emotionally draining week for Flames forward David Moss. Olli Jokinen wants the Flames to get more shots on net. Here are predictions for tonight’s game versus the Red Wings.
- The Hurricanes win streak came to an end last night in Chicago.
- The Blackhawks kept things simple on Wednesday and they ended their struggles with a 3-2 shootout victory. Sammy Pahlsson is still a ways away from returning to the Hawks lineup.
- Adam Foote hates not being in the midst of a heated playoff race, writes Terry Frei. Peter Forsberg will not play for Sweden at the World Championships.
- Antoine Vermette is bringing a lot of great qualities to the Columbus lineup. Rick Nash thinks the NHL still needs fighting in some smaller markets to attract fans. Here are the Jackets’ probable lines for tonight’s game.
- J.J. Taylor says the Dallas Stars are asking for too much from 38 year old Mike Modano. Dallas will try to turn it around against the Hurricanes tonight.
- Mike Babcock says Valtteri Filppula has some untapped potential. Wings GM Ken Holland knows he going to lose some players over the next couple seasons. Ty Conklin will start tonight versus Calgary but Marian Hossa won’t play. Many people came out to pay their respects to the Howe family on Wednesday.
- Both Patrick O’Sullivan and Ales Kotalik are excited for their home debut tonight. Things are hectic right now for the newcomers. Sheldon Souray is questionable for tonight’s game. Ethan Moreau practiced with his teammates yesterday sporting a visor. Oilers enforcer Steve MacIntyre wants to see fighting remain as it is now. Peter Pocklington is in the news for all the wrong reasons again.
- More on Zednik’s return to Buffalo. The Panthers have priced playoff tickets for a possible post-season appearance this spring.
- Jacques Lemaire is clearly baffled by Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s inconsistency. Is Lemaire going to retire at the end of the season? Is Marian Gaborik ever going to return this season?
- Sure Don Lever wants to coach in the NHL someday, but right now his goal is to help Bob Gainey behind the Habs bench. Pat Hickey speculates as to who will become Bob Gainey’s replacement?
- The Predators players have great respect for youngster Antti Pihlstrom. Don’t expect Alexander Radulov to return to Nashville this season.
- Martin Brodeur can move closer to making history tonight. Once Brodeur breaks the record, he probably shouldn’t get too comfortable.
- Yann Danis has sure impressed the Islanders brass with his play, writes Greg Logan.
- John Tortorella wants his team to focus on themselves and stop obsessing on the standings. Henrik Lundqvist has had the stomach flu for a while now, but he expects to start tonight in Nashville. The Rangers “have to have a short-term memory.”
- Carrie Underwood got more face time than Mike Fisher last night, but Fisher scored the winner to lead the Senators to a 3-2 overtime victory. Here are some notes from Bruce Garrioch. The Senators still don’t think they are completely out of the playoff race.
- Expect Daniel Briere to be back in the Flyers lineup tonight, writes Ed Moran.
- Scottie Upshall knows that Phoenix is going to give him every opportunity to prove how good he can be.
- Jordan Staal has flourished in coach Dan Bylsma’s system. The Penguins have asked Miroslav Satan to report to the AHL. Petr Sykora will not play tonight versus Columbus.
- Todd McLellan wants his Sharks to be more patient defensively. The Sharks are coming down the stretch but they don’t want to panic just because they’ve been struggling.
- Those struggling Sharks face-off against the desperate Blues tonight.
- Some of the Lightning players are not fans of the new fighting rule proposals. The Lightning put forth a good effort last night but they came up just short.
- Gary Bettman apparently shot down Brian Burke’s keeping salary in a trade idea. Many of the Leafs have a take on the proposed new fighting rules. Forget tanking, writes Steve Buffery.
- The Canucks have been awful in Southern California.