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On the Beat

On the Beat: Penney leaves NHLPA, Zdeno Chara is playing well but needs to play great, Kings very happy with goalie Quick, Looking at why Leafs Viktor Stalberg has struggled.

A look at the last 3 Thrasher games; Kronwall brothers to battle it out; Blue Jackets wear white at home; Life after Valterri for the Wings; impressive play of Smid; Gaborik is back in Minny and shocker, he’s injured; Devils Oduya has “lower body injury”; Blues finally healthy; Caps coach Boudreau not happy with mediocrity. These stories and more after the jump.

Breaking News:  Ian Penny leaves NHLPA.  Wonder what Paul Kelly and Ted Saskin are thinking.

Word from the beat writers:

  • Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wonders what’s gone wrong for the Thrashers the last three games.
  • If the Bruins expect to be a threat in the East, they are going to need captain Zdeno Chara to be great and so far this season, coach Claude Julien says he’s only “been good”.

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    Chara on ice for game winner against Bruins last night. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

  • Looks like Paul Gaustad will not be playing tonight for the Sabres in action against the Leafs as John Vogl of the Buffalo News is reporting that he is a game time decision due to flu like symptoms.
  • The Flames have added Staffan Kronwall to Saturday’s expected lineup, which means he will have an opportunity to lock horns with his older brother Niklas Kronwall when the Wings roll into town.
  • The Blue Jackets will be wearing the away white colours tonight as Pittsburgh comes to town wearing the baby blue 3rd Pens jersey and excitement in Columbus for this game is quite high.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News likes that the Stars are going with Alex Auld in net against his former club the Florida Panthers tonight.
  • After yesterday’s impressive game which saw the Wings come from behind only to lose in a shootout, the only thing worse than the loss, was losing Valterri Filppula for 6-8 weeks but Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press looks at ways Detroit can move past this.
  • Edmonton looked like they could do no wrong in the first period as they took a commanding 4-0 lead over the Wings and even though they eventually had to squeak out a 6-5 shootout victory, one Oiler who was consistent all game was Ladislav Smid.
  • With the unexpected success of the L.A. Kings, coach Terry Murray is quite happy with the play of his young goalie Jonathan Quick.
    Quick
  • The Minneaspolis Star-Tribune’s Michael Russo has lots to report as injured former Wild star Marian Gaborik returns to Minnesota, notes that Sykora is back in the lineup and Harding is day-to-day.
  • John Glennon of the Tennessean notes that the Nashville Predators reassigned Cal O’Reilly to Milwaukee of the AHL, Erat’s MRI and Arnott/Tootoo took the option skate.
  • The Devils are a dangerous road team (6-0) but will likely be without the services of able defenceman Johnny Oduya as he was left after suffering a “lower body injury” in last night’s 2-1 victory over the Bruins.
  • Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes a second look at staying power on the Penguins and this time at the ten longest consecutive games played streaks in Penguins history.
  • The St. Louis Blues are finally on the path to getting healthier, which is going to require head coach Andy Murray to make some decisions soon.
  • Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times gives Tampa Bay Lightning’s Zenon Konopka credit for fighting Chris Neil, but says it didn’t need to happen.
  • There are three possible reasons why Viktor Stalberg hasn’t been nearly as effective in the regular season as he was in the pre-season and Damien Cox examines them.
  • Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau is not happy with his team’s play and refuses to accept mediocrity.

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