Here are the morning papers for Tuesday the 17th of February:
- Randy Carlyle held a long practice, not to skate his team into the ground, but rather to work on the team’s deficiencies, writes Al Balderas. In an interesting article, Marcia Smith tells readers about the Ducks’ goals of future hockey development in the community.
- Atlanta scored six times in regulation last night and defeated the Kings 7-6 in a shootout, writes Mike Knobler. Here is more on the Mathieu Schneider trade to Montreal.
- Michael Ryder was back on the ice on Monday but isn’t yet in game shape. The Bruins need to get back to their high-scoring ways.
- The Sabres are waiting for Jochen Hecht to return to his usual form, writes John Vogl.
- With a win tonight over Vancouver, the Flames can open up an 11 point Northwest Division lead. Did you know Corey Sarich is on pace for his biggest offensive season? Don’t consider Mike Keenan among those concerned about Jarome Iginla’s goal drought. Predictions for tonight’s Flames/Canucks tilt from the Calgary Herald writers.
- Glen Wesley will have his number raised to the rafters in Carolina tonight. In injury news, Justin Williams will be out for a month with a broken bone in his hand.
- Patrick Sharp is expected to be out of the Hawks lineup for three weeks or more with a knee injury, writes Chris Kuc. (Writer’s note: Patrick Sharp will be our guest on IllegalCurve.com radio on Wednesday night.)
- Read Colorado GM Francois Giguere’s take on his Avalanche squad. Apparently Paul Stastny is getting very close to a return to the lineup for the struggling Avs. John-Michael Liles is questionable tonight for the Avs with a hand injury.
- The Blue Jackets have much to learn from their 3-2 shootout loss at home to the Stars last night. R.J. Umberger was dominant last night but he just missed out on the game-winner. Ken Hitchcock certainly won’t let this group get comfortable, as he’ll always find areas of the game to improve on, writes Bob Hunter.
- Marty Turco was stellar, as the Stars won an important game last night over Columbus. The win did come with a price, as it looks like the Stars’ Brad Richards broke his wrist during last night’s game.
- Ken Holland thinks he has the ability to keep both Marian Hossa and Johan Franzen in the fold. For those calling for the Wings to acquire a netminder, Ken Holland doesn’t agree.
- The Panthers need to get their power play turned around, writes George Richards.
- After Wayne Gretzky praised him, Ales Hemsky proved why he is worthy of such praise with a nifty two point performance in the Oilers’ win over Phoenix on Monday. With last night’s win, the Oilers are now tied for 6th in the Western Conference standings.
- The Kings lost another shootout on Monday.
- Jim Souhan talks about Cal Clutterbuck’s maturity in this morning’s Star Tribune. Jacques Lemaire is making sure his team is ready for its next game after the weekend debacle versus Ottawa. The injured Marian Gaborik has started skating.
- Guy Carbonneau has not been happy with his team’s play and he let them know. Here is Pat Hickey on the Mathieu Schneider trade.
- The streaking Senators came in to Nashville and shutout the Predators on Monday. Nashville’s power play was lacking once again.
- The Devils may get Martin Brodeur back in the lineup as early as this week.
- The Islanders withstood the new look Penguins for a 3-2 shootout win on home ice on Monday. The team was happy to see youngster Jeff Tambellini score the shootout winner.
- The Rangers are struggling immensely right now and it continued in last night’s loss to the Blues in St. Louis. It looks like the Rangers will look to the AHL to help make up for the injury to Paul Mara.
- The Senators continued their unpredictable win streak yesterday with a 2-0 road shutout of the Predators.
- For whatever reason, the schedule maker has given the Flyers a bunch of days off as of late.
- Mikael Tellqvist was great for Phoenix, but the team couldn’t crack Dwayne Roloson, as the Coyotes continued their losing ways with a 3-1 home loss to Edmonton. Apparently the Coyotes are trying to re-sign Derek Morris. In other defense news, the team has activated Kurt Sauer off of IR.
- The Penguins had a new coach on Monday but the same old result. Meanwhile, Michel Therrien was not bitter about being let go or his time in Pittsburgh. He may have had a nice ride, but Therrien did not really see it coming. Players on the team may have been surprised by the timing of the firing, but no one was really shocked that Therrien was fired, writes Dave Molinari.
- The Blues are now one game under .500 after last night’s win over the visiting Rangers. Coming back from injury, Andy McDonald is slowly starting to feel comfortable again.
- Another day, another goalie starting for the Bolts in the team’s next game.
- Brian Burke says Tomas Kaberle is likely going to continue to be a Maple Leaf. It is Pogge time again in Toronto.
- The Canucks are rolling and are excited to be heading out on an East Coast road trip.
- Dan Daly looks at the salary cap implications from a Washington perspective.
