On the Beat: Koivu named captain of Wild, Vanek healthy enough to practice, Oilers get outshot but outchance Canucks, Halak to get the start for Canadiens, Islanders coach not happy with powerplay.

Word from the Beat Writers:

• Looks like Southern California’s first born and bred hockey player to play for the Ducks Brian Salcido, who was down with the Manitoba Moose for development, took a step back in said development as he is currently out of the lineup with post concussion syndrome.
• Good news for the Sabres as all forwards were on the practice ice, including star Thomas Vanek, who missed the last two games with the dreaded “upper body injury”.

  Vanek to practice.

• The Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman Michael Ratchuk from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for winger Stefan Legein.
• The Stars have assigned Perttu Lindgren to their AHL affiliate Texas and called up Francis Wathier.
• You can’t help but feel for the Wings Andreas Lilja as he remains out with a concussion and continues to try everything he can to get back into the lineup.
• The Oilers managed to pull out the victory, despite a Kyle Wellwood goal with no time left on the clock which would have tied the game, but despite being outshot 40-29, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal feels the Oilers outchanced the Canucks 26-15 and leading the way was Sam Gagner.
• If you ever wondered what happens behind the bench and as the L.A. Kings prepare for games and review them then read Rich Hammond’s latest column.
• GM Chuck Fletcher and coach Todd Richards made clear the years of monthly captaincy rotations were history, Mikko Koivu was named the first-ever permanent captain of the Wild today.
• Goaltender Jaroslav Halak will make his second start of the season tonight when the Canadiens face the Atlanta Thrashers at the Bell Centre.

  Halek starts tonight.

• Word out of Jersey is that Bryce Salvador is fine after taking a puck off his foot on Saturday against the Hurricanes, and he should be available to play today.
• Islanders coach Scott Gordon practiced his best baseball impression as he threw the puck down the ice, showing his displeasure with the Islanders powerplay during practice.
• In the realm of ‘aren’t you happy we didn’t trade for him’, comes news that Kings coach Murray is not happy with Alexander Frolov, and James Gordon of the Ottawa Citizen is glad the Senators potential trade never happened.

  Get used to that bench.

• Tomas Fleischmann has been cleared for practice drills, but it’s still unclear when he’ll return to the Caps’ lineup.