On the Beat: Wings lose Zetterberg, Ryan Miller is a Leaf killer, Latendresse claims crowd is key for success against Montreal.

Today’s word from the team beat writers:

• The Sharks proved to be too much for the Ducks, and coach Randy Carlyle said “I don’t think it was the energy issue. I didn’t think we were emotionally involved in the game until later” writes the OCC’s Eric Stephens.
• The Buffalo Sabres Ryan Miller has been dominant for most of the season, but he has been especially lethal against the Leafs.

  (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

• Jackets general manager Scott Howson said it’s a maintenance day for captain Rick Nash and defenceman Fedor Tyutin who were not at practice this morning.
• The injury parade in Detroit continues as they won last night’s game over the Bolts 3-0, but lost one part of their dynamic scoring duo, as Henrik Zetterberg will be out for two weeks.
• The Edmonton Journal’s Dave Staples writes about the difficulties for young centers in learning the position especially Sam Gagner and the Oilers’ other young struggling centres.
• Former Montreal Canadiens winger Guillaume Latendresse said the key for the Wild would be to get a two-goal lead because frustrated Habs fans would turn on their own.
• Rehabbing Brian Gionta skated with Canadiens head athletic therapist Graham Rynbend for at least a half-hour in Brossard this morning before the team’s scheduled 11:30 a.m. practice.
• The New York Rangers appear to have taken coach John Tortorella‘s message to heart as they beat up cross-town rivals 5-2, although at one point the Islanders did hold a 10-1 advantage in shots. 

  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

• The Pittsburgh Penguins keep doing all the little things correctly, and now just two games into a new and improved power play, it appears that this is working better as well.
• Tampa Bay Lightning assigns defenseman Lukas Krajicek to AHL Norfolk and removes his $1.475 million off the books.
• The Toronto Star’s Damien Cox hadn’t yet published his Thursday Leafs mail bag in time for yesterday’s On the Beat, so here it is including questions on; Leafs making playoffs, Luke Schenn being sent down, why the fans in Toronto are so quiet, the poor penalty kill and many other Leaf related items.
• Looks like Canucks coach Alain Vigneault is going to switch up the lines for the game against the Capitals and it appears that Wellwood is getting back into the lineup.
• The Capitals roll into Vancouver and local product Karl Alzner is excited to play his first NHL game at GM Place although he continues to focus on playing hockey with a clear mind.