Wednesday Morning NHL Papers (Western Conference): Marian Hossa will play with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane tonight, Niklas Kronwall does not hold a grudge and Chuck Fletcher is not afraid to be active

Tonight is the IllegalCurve.com Radio Show live from 7pm-9pm CST.  Tonight’s guests include Jason Botchford from the Vancouver Province.  To listen live tonight, click here.  Also, IC has added a new media player to our right sidebar where you can now listen to the past week’s IC Radio Show directly off our home page.  Check it out.

Central Division

• Marian Hossa is returning in style, on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.  Did you know that since Toews returned from his concussion issue the team has won seven consecutive games?
• “We didn’t manage the game — that’s the story of our season,” said a frustrated Ken Hitchcock after his team’s loss at Montreal.  Steve Mason doesn’t seem comfortable when the puck is behind the net, so he is practicing that with the team’s goaltending coach.
• Once again, the Red Wings’ penalty killing is struggling this season, explains Helene St. James.  Injured Niklas Kronwall does not hold a grudge against Georges Laraque.
• If the Predators get a lead it is sure difficult come back on them, writes Bryan Mullen.  In roster news, the Predators have demoted Alexander Sulzer to the AHL.
• With so many offensive options, what is the deal with the Blues’ lack of goal scoring this season?

Northwest Division

• Randy Sportak with the latest on former Flames defensemen Adrian Aucoin and Jim Vandermeer.   Speaking of former Flames, Matthew Lombardi returns to the Saddledome tonight.  This is the Flames’ last game before the team’s longest road trip of the season.
• Big David Jones is starting to gain confidence and find his game, which a welcome sign for his coaches.
• In good news for Oilers fans, Shawn Horcoff is finally starting to find his game.  Things are looking really up for Jeff Deslauriers
• Chuck Fletcher is proving to be quite unlike his predecessor when it comes to trading, explains Rachel Blount.  Martin Havlat will not play tonight.
• Jason Botchford (tonight’s IC Radio guest) discusses the Canucks’ lack of overtime games this season as one reason for the team’s lacking in points.

Pacific Division

• Could the Ducks’ second line finally be showing signs of life?
• Suspended Stars winger James Neal has to continue to play hard but also learn from his mistakes, writes Mike Heika.
• In Los Angeles, Terry Murray has given Teddy Purcell his big chance by placing him on the team’s number one line.
• A quarter of the way through the season and the Coyotes need some consistent goal scoring.
• The Thornton-Heatley-Marleau line has been arguably the best line in hockey.

If you are looking for a holiday gift and want to support IllegalCurve, take a look at our touques that can be purchased for only $9.99 plus shipping.  Also, if you want to add IllegalCurve on Twitter, click here.