Illegal Curve Hockey

Categories: NHL Morning Papers

NHL Morning Papers (Tuesday Edition): Coyotes finally sold, frustration in Anaheim, relief in Toronto and the amazing Craig Anderson

“When you start to see players like Koivu and Scott Niedermayer in reaction mode, then you start to question whether we put ourselves in a can’t-win situation and if our attitude and frustration is getting the best of us,” said Randy Carlyle after his team’s lost to the previously winless Leafs.
The Ducks were undisciplined last night and gave Toronto a whopping eleven power play opportunities.
Meantime, Carlyle explains why he thinks Bobby Ryan isn’t producing so far this season.
Here is the reaction to the news out of Atlanta that Ilya Kovalchuk will miss up to four weeks with a broken bone in his foot.

How will the Thrashers fare without Ilya Kovalchuk? (Picture courtesy of Bleacher Report)

The Bruins are certainly getting a lot of energy from youngster Brad Marchand.
It sounds like Bruins coach Claude Julien really likes Trent Whitfield and wants him to stay up with the big club.
It appears that Mike Grier, Steve Montador, Tyler Myers and Tim Kennedy are the difference between Sabres’ hot start this season and last season.
Both Jay Bouwmeester and Rene Bourque are happy to see their former teammate Craig Anderson succeeding in Colorado.
Eric Nystrom would be happy if he could score as many garbage goals as David Moss.
“It was a bad hit by me,” admitted Tuomo Ruutu about his hit on Darcy Tucker, but the Hurricanes forward also send he won’t change his game because of the hit.
Martin Havlat was quiet in his return to Chicago, as the Blackhawks, backstopped by Cristobal Huet, handled the Wild.
Amazingly, the Avalanche has allowed the most shots against this season but also has accumulated the most points in the standings, which means Craig Anderson has been that good.

Craig Anderson has been carrying the Avs on his back. (Picture courtesy of yahoo.com)

The NHL did thinks that Derek Dorsett came onto the ice during a simple line change, writes Aaron Portzline.
With very few home games so far this season, Stars coach Marc Crawford is trying to stress home-ice advantage to his players.
“Fil has been skating the best I’ve ever seen him skate, and he’s a creative player and he likes to move the puck,” said Daniel Cleary about his new linemate Valtteri Filppula.
What other line changes is Wings coach Mike Babcock considering?
Oilers assistant coach Tom Renney was back in Vancouver on Sunday and reflected on his time as Canucks head coach.
Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi has been fined for his low hit on Blue Jackets winger Jason Chimera.
With last night’s loss, the Wild became the first NHL team in thirteen years to not record a point in its first eight road games.
Meanwhile, coach Todd Richards is not hiding his expectations for youngsters James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot in Minnesota.
Pat Hickey describes last night’s Habs win for the Montreal Gazette.
Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette says you start the guy that gets the job done and that’s why Jacques Martin was right to start Jaroslav Halak in net.
Chinese medicine is one of the main reasons that David Scatchard is back in the NHL with the Predators.
In good news, Dan Hamhuis expects to return to the Nashville lineup tomorrow night.

The Predators will be getting Dan Hamhuis back in the lineup on Wednesday. (Picture courtesy of yahoo.com)

“Paul to the defense and Jay to penalty-killing and his leadership, as well as five-on-five,” explained coach Jacques Lemaire about the importance of the losses of Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo to injury.
The Islanders fought hard last night in Montreal and felt like they deserved better but came out on the short end of the stick with an overtime loss.
The Rangers had a fairly easy victory last night over Phoenix and are hoping that Marian Gaborik’s injury is nothing serious. Before leaving the game, Gaborik scored twice to tie for the NHL lead in goals with 10.
Artem Anisimov has been quietly productive so far for the Blueshirts.
Meantime, former Rangers winger Petr Prucha has found a home in Phoenix.
Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun says the Senators are leaning towards sending Erik Karlsson back to Sweden.
If only the Senators could hit the net on the power play.
Simon Gagne’s slow start looks like it may be because of a lower-body injury, writes Sam Carchidi.
If you have not yet heard, Jerry Moyes has agreed to sell the Coyotes to the NHL.
The NHL’s offer accepted by Moyes was not much different than its September offer.
Penguins fans are wondering how long coach Dan Bylsma should stick with the struggling Chris Kunitz?
“At the same time, I think there has to be a level of respect. When a guy has no idea he is going to be hit like that, it is tough to see that,” said Sidney Crosby about Mike Richards’ hit on David Booth.
Who will the Blues call-up to replace the injured D.J. King?
The Lightning needs to improve in the shootout department.
In other news, Paul Ranger has been granted a leave of absence by the Bolts.
Is HD television that important to growing the game of hockey in the U.S.?
The Leafs have finally ended the nightmare, with a win over the also struggling Ducks on Monday night.
Bob Murray, GM of the Ducks, tries to tell Leafs fans that success did not come overnight in Anaheim either.
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province profiles Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock and his calm demanour.
If the Capitals want to have the puck more, the team needs to improve in the face-off circle.