On the Beat: Hall of Fame news, Thrashers scoring all from back end, Legace joins Canes, Oilers called out via Tweet, statistical analysis of Halak/Price, GM George McPhee says AO could be back this weekend.

Word from today’s team beat writers:

• The Ducks are about to embark on an important road trip, one which see’s the team currently sitting 13th in the West and they know the importance of every win early in the season.
• With the injury to Ilya Kovalchuk, it was understood that someone would have to pick up the slack and start scoring for the Thrashers, but I don’t think anyone expected it to come solely from the defence.
• After last week’s bout with the H1N1 virus, the Bruins David Krejci is back at practice for Boston as was Milan Lucic, who skated in full gear.
• The Flames were happy to talk about Jarome Iginla being voted player of the week but they were silent when it comes to talking about the hit Glencross put on Drury.  Update:  TSN reporting Glencross suspended 3 days.
  
• With all the injuries they have suffered, the worst being Cam Ward being sidelined for a minimum of 3-4 weeks, the Canes have signed goalie Manny Legace, which is filling the dressing room with former Wings.
• Adrian Dater of the Denver Post is still not happy with the crowds in Denver and is concerned that Avs super rookie Matt Duchene has been held pointless for the last four games.
• Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News takes a look at all things Brett Hull on the day he is to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Sticking with the always loquacious Brett Hull he was chatting with Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press this morning and offered her his thoughts on the Wings captain.
• In another tweet-gate incident, except this time involving team beat writers, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal caught a tweet by the Denver Post’s Adrian Dater about the Oilers which will, I’m sure, not leave Edmonton fans very happy.  Be sure to follow Illegalcurve on Twitter so you can receive all the latest NHL news.
• Rich Hammond is in Toronto for the Hall of Fame ceremony and is extensively covering former King Luc Robitaille’s day.
  
• Petr Sykora has been diagnosed with a concussion following that hit from Steve Ott the other night and he will not travel with the team today to Toronto.
• With the recent tweet from Halak’s agent which stirred up a hornet’s nest in Montreal, there has been some statistical analysis which breaks down October’s goaltending performances of Canadiens’ Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak.
• Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger takes a look at what sort of items the Devils players collected, now or as kids, as well as a look at  Lou Lamoriello receiving his Hall of Fame blazer.
• Chris Botta talks about the progress for Rick DiPietro, says all is quiet on the Biron front and that Trent Hunter is getting closer to returning.
• The St. Louis Blues are getting younger, more skilled which could allow the team to offload some vets if the young guns continue to prove themselves.
• Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman participated fully in practice but coach Rick Tocchet might hold Hedman out of Thursday’s game with the Wild as a precaution.
• Damien Cox of the Toronto Star offers some musings on Kessel, HHOF class, NHLPA, Kevin Weekes and Alexander Ovechkin.
• In what seems like quite the turnaround from what Alexander Ovechkin himself said, GM George McPhee said he wouldn’t be surprised if Alex Ovechkin returns in time for this weekend’s games.