On the Beat: Iginla is playing with a chip on his shoulder, Avalanche fans get called out, Panthers give away free tickets, Ryan Kesler is getting some love, Which is the most disappointing team so far?

Word from the team beat writers:

• Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register wants to know which is the most disappointing team so far this young season, and it appears that Ducks fans are looking no further than Anaheim.
• It looks like the H1N1 is continuing to spread further throughout the NHL as the Boston Bruins David Krejci has come down with it and as a result he won’t be playing tonight.
• The Flames Jarome Iginlais finally playing with a chip on his shoulder and this showed in his three point performance last night against the Stars.
  
• It appears that the Carolina Hurricanes are the south of the border version of the Leafs and Chip Alexander of the News and Observer wonders when the team will win again.
• Adrian Dater of the Denver Post says the real attendance figure last night was around 8,500 and he calls out Avalanche fans for not showing up to support the team.
• Columbus Blue Jackets president Mike Priestexpressed his appreciation to the Columbus Chamber and Dr. Buser for their efforts and for recognizing the role the Blue Jackets and Nationwide have played in turning a once blighted area into Nationwide Arena and the Arena District.
• The Red Wings aren’t using injuries as an excuse for their relatively slow start – 15 points after 13 games; third place in their division.
  
• George Richards of the Miami Herald writes that you won’t see “Brought to You By RRA” anymore as a scandal hits Panthers as well as discussing giving away free tickets to last night’s game against Carolina.
• Looks like the Minnesota Wild have had their batteries recharged and for the first time since training camp, smiles and laughs and downright fun ensued during another loose, yet hard-working Wild practice writes Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
• It appears that Jacques Martin has no choice but to show confidence in Carey Price when the Habs visit Boston tonight as Jaroslav Halak is not 100% ready to go.
  
• With their big win over the visiting Capitals last night, have the New Jersey Devils finally figured out what it takes to win at the Prudential Center.
• Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was looking into the Pittsburgh Penguins poor record in California and then expanded that to look at the Pens record in every state, province or even country in its 42 years of existence.
• Damien Cox, the Star’s hockey columnist’s mail bag this week covers the play of Ian White, whether White should be given the ‘C’, whether MLSE is on the decline, sale of the Yotes to the NHL, Kessel’s impact, if the Leafs should have kept McCabe and are the Leafs trying to get Giggy.
• The Vancouver Canucks Ryan Kesler is getting some love for his excellent play as the guys over at Orland Kurtenblog break down their top 10 things around the NHL.