Here are the national morning papers:
- As Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail tells us, Leafs’ coach Paul Maurice has made a number of line adjustments in an effort to spark some more offense out of his club.
- Jack Todd of the National Post gives a summary of Larry Robinson’s retired number ceremony in Montreal last night.
- The USA Today has a Q & A with veteran Ducks’ defenseman Mathieu Schneider in this morning’s paper.
Here are the Western Conference morning papers:
- Not only did the Ducks acquire a new fourth line center yesterday but they are also hoping to have both Todd Bertuzzi and Mathieu Schneider back in their lineup for Wednesday’s game against Dallas.
- Mike Keenan finally cracked the whip yesterday at practice writes Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun. After taking a puck to the head from Canucks’ defenseman Lukas Krajicek, Robyn Regehr is going to tough it out and will be in the lineup tonight versus Colorado.
- Hawks’ winger Jason Williams is listed as questionable for the team’s next game later this week with a strained groin. In positive Hawks’ news, oft-injured forward Martin Havlat is expected to return to the team’s lineup next week.
- Jose Theodore is slated to get the start tonight for the Avalanche as they take on the Flames in Calgary.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch suggests Blue Jackets’ GM Scott Howson is in the market to improve his team’s secondary scoring. Meanwhile, the Jackets are hoping to have Mike Peca return to the lineup in the near future after the center has missed the past five games with a groin injury.
- The Stars are starting to turn their season around as they were able to exact their revenge on the Kings last with a 3-0 victory in Dallas. A move to Mike Modano’s wing has sparked Jeff Halpern who now has three points in three games playing with the all-time leading American scorer.
- Wings’ coach Mike Babcock is hoping Johan Franzen’s shootout winner over the weekend will help him get out of his huge slump.
- Oilers’ defenseman Mathieu Roy was back at practice yesterday attempting to rehab his injured shoulder. Meanwhile, Kyle Brodziak’s knee is almost back to normal and the checking winger is expected to play tonight against the Canucks.
- Last night’s 3-0 shutout at Dallas marked the first time the Kings had been shutout in two consecutive games since the 2001/02 season.
- Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason likes to make sure both of the netminders he works with keep an even keel writes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
- The Predators were defeated last night by their ex-teammate Paul Kariya and the St. Louis Blues 3-0. Jason Arnott missed last night’s game for the Predators with an injured neck.
- Coyotes’ coach Wayne Gretzky doesn’t want rookie Peter Mueller to get down about his lack of ice-time last game writes Jim Gintonoio of the Arizona Republic.
- Anyone hoping there was steam to that Patrick Marleau to the Flames rumors, shouldn’t get too excited as David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News reports that no one from the Calgary front office has even called about the former Seattle Thunderbird.
- The Blues have won four straight games, but Blues’ winger Paul Kariya thinks the team can play much better than it has in its last two contests. In other Blues’ news, winger Martin Rucinsky has seen his offensive opportunities greatly reduced in recent games.
Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:
- The Capitals lost 4-3 to Florida last night and their struggles are reaching the point of no-return with only 13 points registered in 20 games played.
- The Leafs are hoping to play a lot better in Boston this time around than they did in their first trip to Massachusetts. Mark Zwolinkski wonders if former Leafs’ prospect Tuukka Rask will get the start tonight for Boston.
- The Lightning were not happy with the officiating in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Thrashers last night in Atlanta. John Tortorella thinks the key to Jan Hlavac scoring on a consistent basis is a matter of confidence.
- Sidney Crosby was busy shooting a commercial and some pictures for ESPN the Magazine yesterday writes Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That’s a luxury,” defenseman Mark Eaton said in reference to the Penguins extra time available to practice.
- “Physically, I feel pretty good, but the symptoms are still there,” said Flyers’ winger Simon Gagne in reference to his recent concussions.
- The Senators played the role of spoiler in their 4-2 victory last night over the Habs on Larry Robinson night. James Duthie thinks that Senators fans are dreaming if they think that the market is there for a Ray Emery trade. Meantime, Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun has an interesting piece on Senators’ forward Chris Kelly.
- The Islanders made it three straight over the Rangers last night with a 2-1 at MSG writes Greg Logan of Newsday.
- “We allowed them to frustrate us and we got away from our structure that’s been successful,” NYR winger Brendan Shanahan said after last night’s loss. Off-season acquisition Chris Drury is starting to become frustrated that he has been unable to develop chemistry with any of his linemates.
- Brent Sutter has gone with his gut in moving Patrik Elias to the middle to play center for first time since he was a child back in the Czech Republic.
- The Senators proved last night in Montreal why they are 1st in the Eastern Conference writes Pat Hickey in this morning’s Montreal Gazette.
- The Panthers got some confidence after finally holding on to a third period lead on Monday writes Steve Gorten of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Additionally, winning in Washington allowed for the Cats to put an end to their road woes.
- It has come to a point where the Hurricanes can’t even get through a practice without sustaining an injury writes Luke Decock of the News Observer.
- The Thrashers have gotten all the way back to .500 after their overtime victory over the Lightning last night.
- Bruins’ coach Claude Julien is out to fix the defense in front of goalie Tim Thomas writes Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald.
For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.
