On the Beat: Crosby to carry Olympic torch, Monster gets his 1st NHL victory, Sabres coach can’t keep straight face on Myers, Grebeshkov to blame for most Oilers goals.

Word from the beat writers:

• Curtis Zukpe of the Orange County Register takes a look at the Ducks by the numbers and what he determines has to be painful for Anaheim fans.
• Folks in Atlanta are getting a look at the Thrashers lineup without Ilya Kovalchuk today at practice as they recalled Jason Krog from Chicago to take his place.
• Looks like Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff would be an easy guy to play poker against as he couldn’t keep a straight face when questioned on whether or not the Sabres would be keeping Myers with the club this season.
  
• Adrian Dater of the Denver Post brings some thoughts on Avs rookie Matt Duchene and how he’s looking forward to the upcoming road trip and his thoughts on winning faceoffs.
• Somewhat surprising on a Ken Hitchcock coached team is the lack of defensive success by the Jackets (allowed 22 goals in 4 games) and they worked on shoring that up at practice today.
• If the Oilers can blame anyone for goals against this season it is Grebeshkov who has caused more goals against than any other Oiler this year but David Staples of the Edmonton Journal says that doesn’t necessarily make him a bad player.
• Mike Boone of the Montreal Gazette brings us the latest for the Canadiens practice including news on Gomez, Laraque, Metropolit and Jacques Martin’s goalie for the Penguins game.
• No big shocker that they will be riding Martin Brodeur heavily this season and it appears he will be starting the next two games for the Devils.
  
• Looks like Sidney Crosby will get to be one of 12,000 who will be carry the Olympic Torch for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver next year.
• Damian Cristodero is reporting that the Lightning are likely to keep rookie James Wright up this season as he has played exceptionally with Lecavalier and St. Louis.
• Toronto has finally gotten their first win of the season and Damien Cox of the Toronto Star gives his thoughts on where the Leafs go from here.
• The Washington Capitals are trying to win their fifth game in a row but will have to do so short handed against the Flyers writes Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post.