NHL Morning Papers (Valentine’s Edition): Modano looks to the 2010 Olympics, Lemieux eager to face his former team, Mason taking Columbus to Playoffs.

I trust most readers survived Friday the 13th, and as a reward here are the morning papers for Saturday the 14th of February: 

Southeast Division

• Thrashers score as NHL’s Hockey Love Cupids as something about that Philips Arena ice stoked the fire for these lovebirds.   
• A day to remember for one 13-year-old fan as the Canes team up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 
• The Panthers will open the 2009-10 regular season in Europe.
• The Lightning head into tonight’s matchup against Washington on full alert, knowing they are only a defensive breakdown away from giving Mike Green a treasured spot in the NHL record book.
• Waiver Pickup Kronwall is ready for a new opportunity.  In other Caps news, Semin is ready to return but Kozlov is not.  And finally it appears that Eric Fehr is making great strides.

Northeast Division

• Vladimir Sobotka is hearing the call again for the Bruins.  Claude Julien points Patrice Bergeron in a different direction.
• In the wake of the terrible crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Buffalo the Sabres and the NHL considered postponing the game.  The plane crash happened in an area where a number of Sabres players reside.
• Jason Pominville breaks out of his massive goal drought.
• Canadians snap road skid at 7 in a game they apparently didn’t deserve to win.
• Push is about to come to shove between the Senators and tough guy Chris Neil.   People around the Nation’s capital are discussing a new phenomenon called the Clouston Effect.
• Bates Battaglia and Boyd Devereaux are back in the NHL,  at least for now.  The Maple Leafs have placed winger Ryan Hollweg on waivers.

Atlantic Division

• The New Jersey Devils want to make the Prudential Center uncomfortable for opponents.  Looks like Claude Lemieux is relishing the opportunity to return to NJ.
• Lost in the Flyers’ goaltender controversy is the fact that the team’s offense has had a staggering drop-off in the last seven weeks.  It appears the Flyers margin for error is dwindling.
• Ryan Whitney discusses his recovery.  The Penguins are looking to redem themselves against the Leafs after their loss two weeks ago.

Pacific Division

• Chris Pronger ignores trade rumors.
• It appears that Mike Modano will stick around for one more season so he can play in the 2010 Olympics.

Northwest Division

• Look for the Oilers to be searching for some blue line help.
• Forsberg‘s return to the ice was enough to warrant a standing ‘O’ from the hometown fans.
• Vote of confidence is understated but uplifting for Miettinen in Minnesota.

Central Division

• Joel Quenneville wasn’t happy with his team’s effot and felt that they didn’t have enough guys playing.
• The Bluejackets players are singing Steve Mason’s praise and no it has nothing to do with it being “so cold in the D“. Writer’s Note: I apologzie for the link to the worst/greatest song ever to come out of Detroit.
• A former Wing gets the winner vs. his old club.  The Detroit area teams continue to run promo‘s to entice fans to return despite the poor economy.  Writer’s Note:  As I watched the Redwings/Wild game on Thursday they offered 3 games for $81 (calling it the Hossa package).  Interestingly they even allowed the writer to select the Redwings/Sharks game as part of this deal.
• Blues owner Dave Checketts addresses season-ticket holders complaints.