This week's 'Lets Make a Deal'

Montreal gets:
RW Marian Gaborik
Minnesota gets:
C Christopher Higgins
C Tomas Plekanec
D David Fischer (prospect)
2009 2nd round pick

If the Canadiens are still battling the Atlantic teams for home-ice around the Trade Deadline, I think GM Bob Gainey will pull the trigger on a major deal. Gaborik has his injury issues, but someone’s going to take a chance. Gainey may feel the pressure to go through with this one after watching Marian Hossa go to Pittsburgh last February. In return, the Wild would get two good forwards along with a good defensive prospect. Higgins and Plekanec aren’t having the years like they did last year, but still possess an upside. Plekanec would benefit from going to one of the best power play units. Most of his points last year came from Montreal’s lethal man advantage. In a couple years when you look back at this trade, the Wild probably hold the advantage. The Canadiens know the risk in trading for Gabby with his upcoming free agency. So, what are your thoughts on this potential deal??

Morning Skate: Wednesday, 12/31

Tonight’s Slate:
Panthers @ Islanders, 2:00 ET
Sharks @ Wild, 6:00
Avalanche @ Coyotes, 8:00
Thrashers @ Hurricanes, 8:00
Devils @ Stars, 8:30
Blue Jackets @ Ducks, 9:00
Oilers @ Flames, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Edmonton Oilers (17-15-3) @ Calgary Flames (21-11-4)
10:00 ET… TV: TSN

Players to watch:
EDM- Sheldon Souray
The Oil need Souray’s bomb from the point to be in full gear tonight.
CGY- Rene Bourque
Bourque has been a pleasant surprise for the Flames, and has put together a solid December.

Projected Goaltenders:
EDM- Dwayne Roloson (08-09 stats: 9-5-3, 2.58 GAA)
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (08-09 stats: 21-10-3, 2.81 GAA)

Injury Report:
EDM- Fernando Pisani (ankle, out), Steve MacIntyre (eye, out)
CGY- Curtis Glencross (leg, probable), Jim Vandermeer (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)

Last Ten Games:
Oilers (5-4-1) … Flames (6-1-3)

Season Series:
2-0 Oilers

Game Thoughts:
The Battle of Alberta rivalry is renewed tonight, and it’s a big one! Edmonton lost to the lowly Senators at home last night, while the Flames are coming off a tight win against Minnesota. I expect a better effort from the Oilers tonight, but Calgary is hungry for a win against their rivals.

Prediction: Flames 4, Oilers 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Islanders over Panthers
Sharks over Wild
Coyotes over Avalanche
Hurricanes over Thrashers
Stars over Devils
Ducks over Blue Jackets

09 Winter Classic Commercial

Possibly the best commercial out there...

Morning Skate Deluxe: Tuesday, 12/30

Tonight’s Slate:
Capitals @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Thrashers @ Maple Leafs, 7:30
Bruins @ Penguins, 7:30
Canadiens @ Lightning, 7:30
Blackhawks @ Red Wings, 7:30
Devils @ Blues, 8:00
Flyers @ Canucks, 10:00
Senators @ Oilers, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Boston Bruins (27-5-4) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (19-13-4)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
BOS- Milan Lucic
Look for Lucic to create havoc on both ends of the ice tonight… he just recently had an 8-game point streak.
PIT- Sidney Crosby
For his standards, Sid is in a mini-slump… he and Malkin need to energize this struggling attack tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 15-3-3, 2.04 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (08-09 stats: 11-6-2, 2.86 GAA)

Injury Report:
BOS- Patrice Bergeron (concussion, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Andrew Ference (leg, out), Petteri Nokelainen (upper body, doubtful)
PIT- Tyler Kennedy (knee, out), Kris Letang (undisclosed, doubtful), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder, out), Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed, doubtful), Eric Godard (undisclosed, questionable)

Last Ten Games:
Bruins (9-1-0) … Penguins (4-6-0)

Season Series:
1-0 Penguins

Game Thoughts:
The Penguins are desperate for a win tonight, as their offense has run dry the last week or so. The Bruins are obviously the best team in the east, with a 9-point cushion in the conference in their favor. I just think the Pens will be able to gut out a win, knowing they can’t waste any more time dilly-dallying.

Prediction: Penguins 3, Bruins 2 (SO)
----
Game #2: Chicago Blackhawks (20-6-7) @ Detroit Red Wings (23-7-5)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CHI- Brian Campbell
The ‘Soup’ is getting warm, and he needs to stay on the stove for the next two games against the Wings.
DET- Marian Hossa
‘Hoss’ has been a hoss at home this year, with 20 points in 17 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Nikolai Khabibulin (08-09 stats: 11-1-4, 2.35 GAA)
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 11-5-1, 2.57 GAA)

Injury Report:
CHI- Adam Burish (toe, out)
DET- Chris Osgood (groin, doubtful), Darren McCarty (groin, out)

Last Ten Games:
Blackhawks (9-0-1) … Red Wings (6-3-1)

Season Series:
2-0 Red Wings

Game Thoughts:
This is guaranteed to be another exciting game in this re-energized rivalry. It’s a semi-preview of the Winter Classic, except this one is indoors. Chicago is destined to win on Thursday, so Detroit will equalize it tonight by finding the win column for the first time in a week.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 3
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Capitals over Sabres
Maple Leafs over Thrashers
Canadiens over Lightning
Devils over Blues
Canucks over Flyers
Oilers over Senators

Morning Skate: Monday, 12/29

Tonight’s Slate:
Islanders @ Rangers, 7:00 ET
Canadiens @ Panthers, 7:30
Wild @ Flames, 9:00
Sharks @ Stars, 9:00
Predators @ Avalanche, 9:30
Blue Jackets @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the Night:
San Jose Sharks (27-4-4) @ Dallas Stars (15-14-5)
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
SJ- Dan Boyle
Boyle has relatively slowed down since his hot start… look for him to find the stat sheet tonight.
DAL- James Neal
I like this Neal kid… he has 5 goals in the last 4 games, and has kind of sparked the team since the Avery departure.

Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (08-09 stats: 19-3-3, 2.45 GAA)
DAL- Marty Turco (08-09 stats: 14-12-5, 3.27 GAA)

Injury Report:
SJ- Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)
DAL- Sergei Zubov (hip, out), Brendan Morrow (knee, out), Joel Lundqvist (shoulder, doubtful)

Last Ten Games:
Sharks (6-1-3) … Stars (6-3-1)

Season Series:
2-0 Sharks

Game Thoughts:
Dallas has been hot and is back in the thick of things in the west. But that will come to a stand-still tonight when they host San Jose. The Sharks lost 3-2 in a shootout to St. Louis on Saturday, and I expect them to rebound against their division rivals. The Stars will keep it close, though.

Prediction: Sharks 3, Stars 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Rangers over Islanders
Canadiens over Panthers
Flames over Wild
Predators over Avalanche
Kings over Blue Jackets

Which coach will be fired next?

With a couple coaches already losing their jobs this season, it raises the question to us hockey fans: Who will be the next to be shown the door? Here are some candidates that could be job-searching next summer.
Blue Jackets
Ken Hitchcock
I know Columbus is playing pretty well lately, and are sitting just outside the top 8 in the Western Conference. But you gotta believe that the Jackets management’s patience will be running short if they fail to make the playoffs once again. This is his second full season in Columbus and has made a subtle difference in the team’s play. It’ll depend on how they finish, and if they blow a chance at the postseason. If Columbus finishes badly, Hitchcock will be in hot waters.
Oilers
Craig MacTavish
‘MacT’ is one of my favorite coaches in the league, mostly because of his job in getting Edmonton to the Cup finals in 2006. But the Oilers have not seen the playoffs since then, and have been one of the more inconsistent teams in the league over the last two-plus years. He’s been the bench boss in Edmonton since the 2000-01 season. The Oilers have made the playoffs just three times in his tenure, and came into the season with high expectations. Don’t be surprised if Kevin Lowe & company pull the plug on ‘MacT’ if the Oilers miss the postseason for the third consecutive season.
Senators
Craig Hartsburg
This is probably unlikely, as GM Bryan Murray would probably get the axe before Hartsburg. But keep in mind that John Paddock was fired late last year so Murray could man the bench for the playoff run; that was Paddock’s first year as the Senators’ coach. Nothing would surprise me with this club, even if it means firing another first year head coach.
Blues
Andy Murray
The Blues have fought many injuries over Murray’s tenure in St. Louis, which means he’ll probably get another year with the team. And the Blues have remained competitive even with those injuries. But I have to believe John Davidson is getting antsy in the front office, and wants to change something to put a winning product on the ice. I’ll say it’s unlikely Murray will be let go, but it’s surely a possibility.
Lightning
Rick Tocchet
Tocchet was brought in to be Barry Melrose’s right-hand man behind the bench this season. A quick exit, though, for Melrose put Tocchet in a position to be the coach for the remainder of the ’08-09 campaign. But nothing would shock me with the Lightning organization, which has been so stupid with personnel decisions under the new ownership. The owners may have a short leash on Tocchet if the Bolts remain close to the cellar for the duration of the season.

Others who could go: Scott Gordon, NYI; W. Gretzky, PHX; M. Therrien, PIT; D. Tippett, DAL

If the season ended today...

Here are my playoff predictions:
East
1) Bruins over 8) Sabres in 5
2) Capitals over 7) Penguins in 7
6) Devils over 3) Rangers in 6
4) Flyers over 5) Canadiens in 7

1) Bruins over 6) Devils in 5
2) Capitals over 4) Flyers in 7

1) Bruins over 2) Capitals in 6

West
1) Sharks over 8) Predators in 5
2) Red Wings over 7) Coyotes in 5
3) Flames over 6) Ducks in 6
5) Canucks over 4) Blackhawks in 7

1) Sharks over 5) Canucks in 5
3) Flames over 2) Red Wings in 6

1) Sharks over 3) Flames in 7

Stanley Cup Finals
Bruins over Sharks in 6
Conn Smythe: Tim Thomas, Bruins

Morning Skate: Sunday, 12/28

Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Thrashers, 5:00 ET
Ducks @ Blues, 6:00
Blackhawks @ Wild, 6:00
Maple Leafs @ Capitals, 7:00
Predators @ Oilers, 8:00
Senators @ Canucks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Chicago Blackhawks (19-6-7) @ Minnesota Wild (17-14-2)
6:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CHI- Duncan Keith
Keith is one of the more under-appreciated d-men in the league. Last 6 games: 6 points and a +9 rating.
MIN- Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Look for Bouchard to possibly step up with the scratching of Gaborik.

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Cristobal Huet (08-09 stats: 8-5-3, 2.39 GAA)
MIN- Niklas Backstrom (08-09 stats: 16-11-2, 2.27 GAA)

Injury Report:
CHI- Adam Burish (toe, out), Cam Barker (undisclosed, questionable)
MIN- Marian Gaborik (groin, out), Marc-Andre Bergeron (lower body, out), Owen Nolan (leg, doubtful), Kurtis Foster (leg, out)

Last Ten Games:
Blackhawks (9-0-1) … Wild (3-6-1)

Season Series:
1-0 Wild

Game Thoughts:
Minnesota’s been struggling the last few weeks, and the suspicious news about Gaborik’s upcoming two-game hiatus won’t help the cause. The Blackhawks are soaring right now, and beat the Flyers 5-1 on Friday night. They’ve won 8 in a row, and I don’t see it stopping tonight.

Prediction: Blackhawks 4, Wild 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Bruins over Thrashers
Ducks over Blues
Capitals over Maple Leafs
Predators over Oilers
Canucks over Senators

Saturday Fantasy #13

Here is our 13th edition of 'Saturday Fantasy'! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I will select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. Chris still holds a commanding 8-0-1 lead. Our picks are as follows...
Chris
F- Evgeni Malkin, PIT*
D- Rob Blake, SJ
G- Ryan Miller, BUF
Ryan
F- Jarome Iginla, CGY
D- Steve Montador, ANA
G- Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY

*This is the 2nd time Chris has used Malkin

Morning Skate Deluxe: Saturday, 12/27

Tonight’s Slate:
Islanders @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Canadiens @ Penguins, 7:00
Bruins @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Flyers @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Devils @ Rangers, 7:30
Panthers @ Lightning, 7:30
Ducks @ Stars, 8:00
Sharks @ Blues, 8:30
Red Wings @ Avalanche, 9:00
Kings @ Coyotes, 9:00
Senators @ Flames, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Montreal Canadiens (18-9-6) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (19-12-4)
7:00 ET… TV: CBC, NHL Net. (US), Local Networks

Players to watch:
MTL- Robert Lang
Lang has stepped up in the absence of Saku Koivu.
PIT- Ryan Whitney
How does he fare in just his third game back from the heel injury??

Projected Goaltenders:
MTL- Carey Price (08-09 stats: 13-4-5, 2.39 GAA)
PIT- Marc-Andre Fleury (Last night @ NJ: 37 Saves, Shutout)

Injury Report:
MTL- Saku Koivu (foot, out), Andrei Kostitsyn (knee, questionable), Christopher Higgins (shoulder, out), Mathieu Dandenault (arm, out)
PIT- Tyler Kennedy (knee, out), Hal Gill (shoulder, out), Kris Letang (undisclosed, doubtful), Sergei Gonchar (shoulder, out), Mike Zigomanis (undisclosed, doubtful)

Last Ten Games:
Canadiens (5-3-2) … Penguins (4-6-0)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
Pittsburgh picked up a big (and controversial) win last night in New Jersey, but continued to struggle offensively. I don’t foresee their luck getting any better against a well-rested Habs team. The Pens will do enough to steal a point, but Montreal will get the two points.

Prediction: Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (OT)
----
Game #2: New Jersey Devils (19-11-3) @ New York Rangers (22-12-3)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
NJ- Zach Parise
Parise has two… two four-assist games this month. He needs to help the Devils get back on the winning track.
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist
‘King Henrik’ gave up 8 goals in their last meeting. He’s 14-3-4 in his career against Jersey, with a 1.77 GAA.

Projected Goaltenders:
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (08-09 stats: 11-4-1, 2.22 GAA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 18-10-3, 2.59 GAA)

Injury Report:
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out), Bryce Salvador (upper body, questionable)
NYR- None

Last Ten Games:
Devils (6-3-1) … Rangers (5-4-1)

Season Series:
2-1 Rangers

Game Thoughts:
The Devils cross the Hudson River tonight after a stinging 1-0 defeat to Pittsburgh last night. The last time these two met, the Devils pulled out a crazy 8-5 victory. If I was a betting man, I would highly doubt that 13 goals will be scored in this one! New Jersey is in a scoring drought, and the Blueshirts are looking to rebound from a stunning 5-4 overtime loss to Washington on Tuesday night. Rangers in a tight one.

Prediction: Rangers 2, Devils 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Islanders
Bruins over Hurricanes
Flyers over Blue Jackets
Panthers over Lightning
Stars over Ducks
Sharks over Blues
Avalanche over Red Wings
Coyotes over Kings
Flames over Senators

'Sommet Magic' Strikes Again!

April 20, 2008… That was the last time the Red Wings walked into the Sommet Center, and they continued their journey to the Cup weeks after. Eight-plus months later, they strutted into Nashville as the defending champs. But the Preds had none of it, as the Music City was rockin’ in the 2nd sell-out of the season.

‘Sommet Magic’ was back tonight as Pred Nation pushed their team to a big and much-needed ‘W’. Before I get to the game, I want to make a comment on the crowd tonight. There were probably 2-3,000 Detroit fans in the building (way too many!), and it was still the loudest regular season game I can remember… and this includes the eventual-playoff-clinching game against the Blues last year. Tonight was treated like a playoff game, and we had another one of our classic TV timeouts with just under 5 minutes to go in the game. This is when the fans give the team an extra boost of energy by cheering as loud as they can throughout the whole 2-3 minute break. It’s truly indescribable unless you witness it. Now to the game…

The Predators played a GREAT all-around game against arguably the best team in the league. From Jason Arnott to Greg Zanon, everyone contributed to the 3-2 victory. As I’ve said before on this site, you beat the Red Wings by attacking them and shoving their game right back in their face; and Barry Trotz’s crew did just that tonight. They fore-checked, they back-checked, they won face-offs, they blocked shots, they won battles against the boards, they played great in the neutral zone and they finished their checks.

Arnott had at least 4 or 5 big hits in the third period, doing everything he could to win. Zanon freakin’ scored a goal!... and blocked numerous shots. Shea Weber, who should be the favorite for the Norris right now, literally threw down Datsyuk and Hossa on 1-on-1 chances throughout the game. Dan Ellis was in a zone, as he always is against these guys. Radek Bonk won 13 of 14 face-offs. Vern Fiddler scored his third goal in the last four games. This was a great TEAM effort for the Preds. Hopefully this will jump-start a previously offensively-challenged team. They have a big stretch coming up against the Northwest Division.

Nashville is one of the only teams in the NHL that actually knows the formula of how to continually compete with the Red Wings for 60 minutes. Off the top of my head the Ducks, Canucks, and ‘Hawks are the only others who can claim to know the formula. The Sharks went into the Joe and got their rear ends handed to ‘em 6-0 last week. Do you ever see the Preds get blown out by these guys?? Heck no! I don’t know why this matchup doesn’t get more publicity around the league. Every game is decided in the 3rd period between these two.

Since the lockout, the Preds may be 12-19 against the Wings (including the ’08 playoffs), but in the 12 wins, they beat the Wings by an average score of 4-2. In the losses, the average score is 3.5-2. In the playoff series last season, Nashville was a few bounces away from winning that series… with an injury-depleted roster in games 5 and 6. They were the only team in the playoffs to actually put the Wings on the ropes of series defeat, and it was in the first round!

I guarantee you, if these two play again in the postseason this spring, Nashville will finish off Detroit. If they crack the top eight in the west, this is the year the Preds will win a playoff road game, and they’re not afraid by the Wings one bit. Mark my words, the Preds will beat the Wings in a playoff series this year if they get the chance… you heard it here first on December 27, 2008.

Weekend Primer

Games to Watch:
Friday-
Penguins @ Devils
Sabres @ Capitals
Red Wings @ Predators
Flyers @ Blackhawks
Oilers @ Canucks
Saturday-
Canadiens @ Penguins
Bruins @ Hurricanes
Devils @ Rangers
Ducks @ Stars
Red Wings @ Avalanche
Kings @ Coyotes
Sunday-
Blackhawks @ Wild
Predators @ Oilers

Team with most on the line:
Pittsburgh Penguins
On a weekend where most teams around the league play twice, the Pens’ two games are the most important. On Friday they travel to Jersey, then host Montreal Saturday night. Pittsburgh has been stuck in a rut this month, going 4-6-1. How do they respond after being shut out by the Lightning at home?? Maybe a two-day break can help ‘em catch their breath before another tough stretch of games… it better!

Morning Skate Deluxe: Friday, 12/26

Tonight’s Slate:
Penguins @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Islanders, 7:00
Sabres @ Capitals, 7:00
Hurricanes @ Thrashers, 7:30
Lightning @ Panthers, 7:30
Red Wings @ Predators, 8:00
Flyers @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Oilers @ Canucks, 10:00
Coyotes @ Kings, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Detroit Red Wings (23-6-4) @ Nashville Predators (16-14-3)
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
DET- Johan Franzen
The ‘Mule’ is due for a big game, and seems to score big goals against the Preds.
NSH- Shea Weber
This team is so much better when Weber is at the top of his game.

Projected Goaltenders:
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 11-4-0, 2.53 GAA)
NSH- Dan Ellis (08-09 stats: 9-12-3, 2.75 GAA)

Injury Report:
DET- Darren McCarty (groin, out), Chris Osgood (groin, questionable)
NSH- Scott Nichol (concussion, out)

Last Ten Games:
Red Wings (8-2-0) … Predators (5-4-1)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
This is the first game between the two rivals since last year’s playoffs. My heart says Nashville in a heartbeat, but it’s hard to go with them when Vern Fiddler has scored the only 2 goals in the last 3 games. Detroit is hot right now, and will take advantage of the Preds’ scoring woes. Nashville will keep it close throughout the game, but Babcock’s bunch will be too much tonight.

Prediction: Red Wings 3, Predators 1
----
Game #2: Philadelphia Flyers (19-8-7) @ Chicago Blackhawks (18-6-7)
8:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
PHI- Jeff Carter
He’s one of the hottest players in the league, with 10 goals in the last 11 games.
CHI- Patrick Sharp
Sharp is due for a big night as he’s been off-and-on lately.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Antero Niittymaki (December stats: 5-1-1, 2.78 GAA)
CHI- Cristobal Huet (08-09 stats: 8-5-3, 2.39 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHI- Scottie Upshall (knee, out), Daniel Briere (groin, out), Glen Metropolit (back, questionable), Ryan Parent (shoulder, out), Derian Hatcher (knee, out)
CHI- Adam Burish (toe, out), Aaron Johnson (ribs, out)

Last Ten Games:
Flyers (7-1-2) … Blackhawks (8-1-1)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
This is by far the headline game of the night… two of the hottest teams in the NHL squaring off in the Windy City. In this matchup, I like the home team. If the game was in Philly, I’d pick the Fly-boys. But it’s in Chicago, and I think the ‘Hawks will continue their great success at the United Center (10-1-4 this year).

Prediction: Blackhawks 5, Flyers 3
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Devils over Penguins
Maple Leafs over Islanders
Capitals over Sabres
Hurricanes over Thrashers
Panthers over Lightning
Canucks over Oilers
Kings over Coyotes

This Week's 'Let's Make a Deal'

Chicago gets:
C Jason Spezza
G Martin Gerber
2009 3rd Round pick
Ottawa gets:
G Nikolai Khabibulin
D Cam Barker
2009 2nd Round pick

I can see this trade working out for both teams. Spezza would give Chicago that much-needed center that they are going to need come playoff time. IMO, he wouldn't shake the locker room chemistry. The ‘Hawks would also get a veteran goalie instead of relying on the inexperienced Corey Crawford to backup Huet. In return, Ottawa would get a goalie (Khabibulin) that could possibly help the Sens push for the wide-open 8th spot in the east. The Sens would also be able to bolster their blue line for the future with the Barker addition. The difference in the draft picks is to balance out the trade.
What are your thoughts??

Is this the save of the year??

Giving the situation of the game and the score, Tim Thomas' save from last night certainly gets my vote...

And then how about this comeback for the Caps last night!? Poor Rangers...

Power Rankings: December 24

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of you!!
In this week’s power rankings, I’m going to look back at the off-season moves for each team, and give them a grade on their acquisitions’ performances through the first 33-36 games this year.

1. Boston Bruins
Last Week: 2
Overall: 25-5-4
Last Ten: 9-1
Week Record: 4-0
Wingers Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler were the Bruins’ biggest off-season moves, and they’re paying dividends. Both have played consistent, and Wheeler is looking like an absolute steal. GM Peter Chiarelli did a great job not messing with the locker room with these moves.
Off-Season Grade: B+

2. San Jose Sharks
Last Week: 1
Overall: 27-4-3
Last Ten: 7-1-2
Week Record: 2-1-1
Many ‘experts’ doubted that the Sharks would make it work with the changes on the blue line. I was one of the few that believe in them. Losing out Campbell hurt at the time, but Dan Boyle and Rob Blake have been tremendous thus far, and are one of the reasons why this team is the best in the NHL heading into the holidays.
Off-Season Grade: A-

3. Detroit Red Wings
Last Week: 3
Overall: 23-6-4
Last Ten: 8-2
Week Record: 3-0
GM Ken Holland shocked the hockey world by signing Marian Hossa to a one-year deal. He has 34 points in 33 games, and should be headed for the All-Star Game next month. ‘Hoss’ is definitely increasing his paycheck that he’ll earn once again this summer. Ty Conklin was a solid signing in net, especially at his price tag ($1 mil).
Off-Season Grade: A

4. Philadelphia Flyers
Last Week: 4
Overall: 19-8-7
Last Ten: 7-1-2
Week Record: 3-1-1
The Flyers made a very wise decision in letting R.J. Umberger go opposed to Jeff Carter. The only notable signing for Philly was d-man Steve Eminger, and he’s already been traded to dysfunctional Tampa Bay. This team didn’t real need to bring in anyone as they’ve continued right where they left off last season.
Off-Season Grade: N/A

5. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 8
Overall: 18-6-7
Last Ten: 8-1-1
Week Record: 3-0
GM Dale Tallon made a bold move by signing both Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet to lucrative contracts. ‘Soup’ has been steady, and is a good fit with that group. Huet started slow and lost his job, but has rebounded with a great month of December. A minor move that has paid off was the addition of d-man Aaron Johnson.
Off-Season Grade: A-

6. Washington Capitals
Last Week: 7
Overall: 21-11-3
Last Ten: 8-2
Week Record: 3-1
The big signing for GM George McPhee was goalie Jose Theodore, and that has basically blown up in his face. He was supposed to be the solution, but instead he’s become a problem. Theodore’s currently boasting a 3.32 GAA, and is splitting time with veteran afterthought Brent Johnson. Re-signing Fedorov was a great move, though.
Off-Season Grade: D

7. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 6
Overall: 19-10-3
Last Ten: 7-2-1
Week Record: 3-1-1
The deal no one talked about in the summer is the one that has paid off the most, as they brought back Scott Clemmensen to serve as the emergency backup to Brodeur and Weekes. How good is Lou looking right now for that one?? Rolston and Holik have disappointed, though, as they’ve spent more time on IR than the ice.
Off-Season Grade: C+

8. Calgary Flames
Last Week: 10
Overall: 19-11-4
Last Ten: 5-2-3
Week Record: 3-0-1
As expected, Mike Cammalleri has been awesome with his new mates; he has 28 points in 33 games. The other players that GM Darryl Sutter brought in (R. Bourque, C. Glencross, T. Bertuzzi) have paid dividends at some point this season. A solid summer for the Flames as we look back.
Off-Season Grade: B

9. Montreal Canadiens
Last Week: 12
Overall: 18-9-6
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 2-1-1
GM Bob Gainey didn’t pull the trigger on big moves such as Hossa or Sundin, and settled for second- and third-tier acquisitions in Tanguay and Laraque. Tanguay’s been solid, but probably not as consistent as the Habs hoped for. Laraque has provided a spark when needed.
Off-Season Grade: C

10. New York Rangers
Last Week: 9
Overall: 22-12-3
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 2-1-1
GM Glen Sather took some chances this summer. Some have backfired… some have not. Zherdev and Naslund are the ones that have worked out well for the Blueshirts, but they could be better off without Redden and Rozsival (re-signed). This team is holding on by a thread right now.
Off-Season Grade: C-

11. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: 5
Overall: 18-14-3
Last Ten: 4-6
Week Record: 1-3
With as cap-strapped as ex-GM Brian Burke was at the time, signing Brendan Morrison wasn’t a bad trade-off for Todd Bertuzzi. Bert did not fit in SoCal, and Morrison is getting more comfortable.
Off-Season Grade: C-

12. Florida Panthers
Last Week: 19
Overall: 16-13-4
Last Ten: 7-2-1
Week Record: 2-0-1
GM Jacques Martin got robbed in the Jokinen trade, with his two new d-men struggling. Ballard got off to a hot start, but has cooled off considerably. Cory Stillman has been decent when in the lineup, but nowhere near but they thought he’d do.
Off-Season Grade: D

13. Vancouver Canucks
Last Week: 14
Overall: 19-13-3
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 2-2
GM Mike Gillis made a statement to the Canucks fans when he decided not to re-sign Naslund and Morrison, and he’s looking good right now. He filled those holes with Bernier, Demitra, and Wellwood. They haven’t been great, but fit better on and off the ice.
Off-Season Grade: C+

14. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 11
Overall: 18-12-4
Last Ten: 4-6
Week Record: 2-2
The Pens came into the year with a whole new look with the departures of Malone, Hossa, Laraque, Roberts, and Ruutu. Satan and Fedotenko have been good, but are downgrades from what Pittsburgh had before. Godard and Cooke have filled in the roles of Laraque and Ruutu nicely.
Off-Season Grade: C

15. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: 15
Overall: 17-14-2
Last Ten: 3-6-1
Week Record: 2-1-1
Minny lost a lot of pop in the lineup, but tweaked their lineup nicely. Miettinen and Brunette have been nice up front, and the additions on the blue line (Zidlicky & Bergeron) have been useful. Their still not the same team as last year, though, and could miss the playoffs due to their conservative summer.
Off-Season Grade: C

16. Colorado Avalanche
Last Week: 16
Overall: 17-16-1
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 2-2
The team that knocked the Wild in the first round last year was quiet this summer. Raycroft has been useless between the pipes (even for a fluke win at DET). Darcy Tucker was never going to work in the Rocky Mountains. I think the Avs really miss Andrew Brunette in key situations.
Off-Season Grade: C-

17. Buffalo Sabres
Last Week: 17
Overall: 16-13-5
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 1-1-2
The Sabres didn’t lose any important players from last year’s roster, and only added veteran d-man Craig Rivet. Rivet quickly became the team captain, but has been a bust with 5 points and a -6 rating. GM Darcy Regier’s inability to lure anyone in could end up costing his team a playoff spot.
Off-Season Grade: D

18. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 13
Overall: 16-14-3
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 1-2
The loss of Radulov is hurting more than the trade of Zidlicky, as the Preds are having trouble putting the puck in the back of the net. Joel Ward, the lone notable addition this summer, has been very good this year on special teams and even strength; definitely an overlooked move by GM David Poile.
Off-Season Grade: D-

19. Phoenix Coyotes
Last Week: 20
Overall: 16-14-5
Last Ten: 4-3-3
Week Record: 2-1-2
The arrival of Olli Jokinen has paid off for the ‘Yotes, but I think they wanted more from the ex-Panther. GM Don Maloney could’ve done better getting help on defense, as the unit has been sporadic so far.
Off-Season Grade: C+

20. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 18
Overall: 15-14-3
Last Ten: 5-4-1
Week Record: 1-2-1
I think everyone expected more out of the players GM Kevin Lowe brought in this summer. Lubomir Visnovsky has been great on the man advantage for the Oilers, but Erik Cole is undoubtedly a disappointment. And for Gilbert Brule… well, he’s currently in Springfield.
Off-Season Grade: C

21. Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week: 22
Overall: 16-14-5
Last Ten: 4-3-3
Week Record: 3-2
It looks like GM Jim Rutherford is currently winning the trade with Edmonton, when he sent Cole to the Oilers for d-man Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen has played well and has been their most consistent blue-liner.
Off-Season Grade: C

22. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 27
Overall: 14-14-5
Last Ten: 6-3-1
Week Record: 3-0-1
Co-GM’s Brett Hull and Les Jackson made the worst acquisition of the summer. Sean Avery ended up being a distraction… so much that he’s been told to never come back! And ever since since ‘sloppy seconds’ incident, their 6-3-1 and playing much better hockey. The team should’ve acquired a decent backup for Turco in net.
Off-Season Grade: F

23. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 21
Overall: 14-14-6
Last Ten: 4-3-3
Week Record: 1-2-1
Jarret Stoll was LA’s biggest acquisition in a trade with the Oilers, and he’s been good; 18 points in 34 games… better than what he did in Edmonton last year. But I still think they’d like to have Visnovsky right about now. Other additions such as Brad Richardson and Matt Greene haven’t done anything this season.
Off-Season Grade: C-

24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 23
Overall: 14-16-4
Last Ten: 3-6-1
Week Record: 1-2-1
GM Scott Howson shook up the team by trading away Zherdev and others, and bringing in Huselius, Umberger, Torres, Commodore, Tyutin, and Backman. Umberger and Huselius have been their best acquisitions up front, and Tyutin has been Columbus’ best defenseman. But they still can’t put everything together in Ohio’s capital…
Off-Season Grade: B

25. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 25
Overall: 14-14-6
Last Ten: 5-5
Week Record: 3-2
Niklas Hagman and Mikael Grabovski are really the only 2 signings that worked out for ex-GM Cliff Fletcher. Other acquisitions such as Mayers, Finger, and Hollweg have blown up in his face. Time for Brian Burke to pick up the pieces!
Off-Season Grade: C-

26. Atlanta Thrashers
Last Week: 29
Overall: 12-18-4
Last Ten: 4-5-1
Week Record: 3-2
GM Don Waddell was relatively quiet this summer, but the two moves he made have worked out pretty well for the Thrashers. D-man Ron Hainsey and center Jason Williams have combined for 35 points in the first 34 games.
Off-Season Grade: C+

27. Ottawa Senators
Last Week: 26
Overall: 12-15-5
Last Ten: 4-5-1
Week Record: 1-3
They lost a lot of off last year’s roster: Redden, Stillman, Meszaros, and Emery. GM Bryan Murray did a poor job filling those holes, and it’s come back to haunt him. Filip Kuba has been a bright spot on defense, but he’s slowed down from his hot start. Goalie Alex Auld has been good, not great.
Off-Season Grade: C-

28. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 28
Overall: 8-16-9
Last Ten: 2-6-2
Week Record: 1-1-1
I’m not even going to go into the personnel changes for the Bolts, because I’d go on all day about it. Bottom line… their stupid strategy to have 50 forwards on their roster has blown up in their face. I don’t blame Jay Feaster for getting out of the Bay Area when he did.
Off-Season Grade: F

29. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 24
Overall: 13-18-3
Last Ten: 3-7
Week Record: 1-4
The Blues really stayed quiet this summer, and only made little moves. Goalie Chris Mason hasn’t improved from his final season in Nashville, as he’s 3-10-1 with a 3.16 GAA.
Off-Season Grade: D

30. New York Islanders
Last Week: 30
Overall: 10-21-3
Last Ten: 0-9-1
Week Record: 0-3-1
I’m convinced the Isles could’ve signed Hossa and Campbell and they’d still be the worst team in hockey. This organization just doesn’t know how to put a team together. New additions Streit and Weight have been their two best players this year, but still not enough for them to win a game in December yet.
Off-Season Grade: B-

Is the Grinch out in Phoenix??

There could be trouble in the desert when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes. Owner Jerry Moyes is reportedly looking to sell the franchise, as he's losing $30 million a season. And then if you take in account that they're struggling with attendance and generating revenue, it becomes clear that the Coyotes are in the beginning stages of possibly losing its hockey team.

Today's report comes as no surprise to me. Jobing.com Arena is a beautiful venue, and I've had the luxury of attending a Preds/'Yotes game there a couple years back. It's the nicest arena I've been to yet. Here's the thing... the place rarely sells out, and the team hasn't been to the playoffs in who-knows-how-long. On Saturday, November 29, the Coyotes hosted the San Jose Sharks. You would think that they'd be able to sell the place out, especially with it being on Thanksgiving weekend, right? Instead, 14,007 fans watched the two teams play a great game.

And isn't it a coincidence that I received my edition of The Hockey News today, and find the article: 'A Slow Death in the Desert'... talking about this very thing. Then hours later, the reports came out about Moyes likely looking to sell in the near future.

I don't understand why people don't want to see this team in person. They are a young & exciting team, with 'The Great One' behind the bench. Is it the Phoenix Suns?? Is it the economy?? Do people just not care?? It's probably a combination of these things, and that should be disappointing to this franchise.

If Moyes fails to find a local investor to buy the team, where could the Coyotes move to?? One name that will be thrown out there is obviously Jim Balsillie, but that'd be the last choice for the Coyotes' brass and the NHL. I think Jerry Bruckheimer would be an option. He definitely has the money, and could keep the Coyotes closeby if he ends up moving them to Las Vegas.

The thing that would stop the Coyotes from getting outta town, though, would be their lease with the city of Glendale. When they made the 20-minute jaunt from downtown Phoenix to Glendale, the Coyotes and the city signed a 30-year lease. I honestly have no idea what kind of out-clauses there may be.

If your a hockey fan in Phoenix, and the Coyotes eventually start looking at other cities to relocate to, I feel ya. The Predators were almost taken away from our grasps here in Nashville, and it worried me to death that the closest NHL franchise would be 5 hours away (Atlanta). Lets hope Moyes is smart enough to not even consider Jim Balsillie as a replacement...

*SPECIAL EDITION* Saturday Fantasy #12

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone, and we're going to celebrate by having a special edition 'Saturday Fantasy'! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. Chris is in complete control, leading 8-0-1. Here are our picks:
Chris
F- Patrik Elias, NJ
D- Zdeno Chara, BOS
G- Niklas Backstrom, MIN*
Ryan
F- Patrick Marleau, SJ
D- Kimmo Timonen, PHI
G- Steve Mason, CLB

*This is the 3rd time Chris has used Backstrom, which means he can no more use the Swede...

Morning Skate Deluxe: Tuesday, 12/23

Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Thrashers @ Islanders, 7:00
Capitals @ Rangers, 7:00
Senators @ Flyers, 7:00
Kings @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Stars @ Maple Leafs, 7:30
Lightning @ Penguins, 7:30
Predators @ Panthers, 7:30
Blues @ Red Wings, 7:30
Hurricanes @ Wild, 8:00
Coyotes @ Avalanche, 9:00
Ducks @ Flames, 9:00
Canucks @ Sharks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Game #1: Boston Bruins (24-5-4) @ New Jersey Devils (19-9-3)
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN2

Players to watch:
BOS- Phil Kessel
This red-hot Bruin can get to game #18 in his point streak tonight.
NJ- Patrik Elias
Elias is quietly on a major tear, and usually does well against the B’s.

Projected Goaltenders:
BOS- Tim Thomas (08-09 stats: 13-3-3, 2.15 GAA)
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (08-09 stats: 11-3-1, 2.30 GAA)

Injury Report:
BOS- Patrice Bergeron (concussion, out), Marco Sturm (knee, out), Aaron Ward (ankle, questionable), Andrew Ference (leg, out), Petteri Nokelainen (upper body, out)
NJ- John Madden (flu, questionable), Bryce Salvador (upper body, questionable), Martin Brodeur (elbow, out)

Last Ten Games:
Bruins (9-1-0) … Devils (7-2-1)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
Two of the hottest (and best) teams in the East will face-off tonight in Jersey. On one side of the ring, we have the Boston Bruins. This is a group that thrives off of team chemistry and great goaltending. They have a comfy lead atop the Northeast Division with 52 points. On the other side stands the New Jersey Devils, a team that has surprised many by keeping up with the rest of the conference with Brodeur injured. This should be a great game, and Versus finally got one right!

Prediction: Bruins 3, Devils 2
----
Game #2: Washington Capitals (20-11-3) @ New York Rangers (22-12-2)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
WSH- Nicklas Backstrom
I just have a feeling that the overshadowed Backstrom could have a great game tonight.
NYR- Michal Rozsival
Rozsival has temporarily turned it around, as he scored 2 goals and was a +2 on New York’s Pacific swing.

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Brent Johnson (08-09 stats: 10-5-2, 2.55 GAA)
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 18-10-2, 2.50 GAA)

Injury Report:
WSH- Alexander Semin (back, questionable), Sergei Fedorov (ankle, doubtful), Tyler Sloan (leg, questionable), John Erskine (concussion, out), Chris Clark (forearm, out), Tom Poti (groin, probable), Jeff Schultz (finger, out), Brian Pothier (concussion, out)
NYR- None

Last Ten Games:
Capitals (7-3-0) … Rangers (5-5-0)

Season Series:
1-0 Capitals

Game Thoughts:
I really like the chances of Ovechkin and Backstrom shining tonight at MSG. They’ll be looking to rebound from their 7-1 loss to Philly on Saturday. The Blueshirts could come into this one a bit sluggish coming off the Western road trip. This one will certainly be interesting.

Prediction: Capitals 4, Rangers 1
----
Game #3: Vancouver Canucks (19-12-3) @ San Jose Sharks (26-4-3)
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
VAN- Ryan Kesler
Secondary scoring will be necessary for the Canucks to top San Jose.
SJ- Ryane Clowe
Clowe is slowly becoming a force on the man advantage.

Projected Goaltenders:
VAN- Curtis Sanford (Last night vs. ANA: 24 Saves, 3 GA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (08-09 stats: 18-3-2, 2.58 GAA)

Injury Report:
VAN- Roberto Luongo (groin, out), Sami Salo (ribs, out), Rick Rypien (sports hernia, out), Ryan Johnson (finger, out)
SJ- Milan Michalek (upper body, probable), Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)

Last Ten Games:
Canucks (5-4-1) … Sharks (7-1-2)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
This could very well be a dominating victory for the Sharks tonight. Vancouver’s legs may be heavy after holding on to beat Anaheim last night. That’s definitely the last thing you need when you’re going into The Tank. The Sharks are 17-0-2 at home, and I don’t look for the Canucks to put a dent in that record.

Prediction: Sharks 5, Canucks 2
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Islanders over Thrashers
Flyers over Senators
Blue Jackets over Kings
Stars over Maple Leafs
Penguins over Lightning
Predators over Panthers
Red Wings over Blues
Wild over Hurricanes
Avalanche over Coyotes
Flames over Ducks

Upset Alert- Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay
The Pens won an emotional overtime game last night in Buffalo, and it seems like Lecavalier & St. Louis kill the Pens in Pittsburgh once a year. I envision an off-night for Crosby and company, but will it be enough for the Bolts to shock ‘em in the Igloo??

Morning Skate: Monday, 12/22

Tonight’s Slate:
Penguins @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Maple Leafs @ Thrashers, 7:00
Coyotes @ Oilers, 9:30
Ducks @ Canucks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
Anaheim Ducks (18-12-3) @ Vancouver Canucks (18-12-3)
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
ANA- Chris Kunitz
Kunitz needs to step up on the power play in the absence of the ‘Finnish Flash’.
VAN- H. Sedin & D. Sedin
The Sedins need to lead this team, but both usually don’t play well against Anaheim.

Projected Goaltenders:
ANA- Jonas Hiller (08-09 stats: 7-5-1, 2.07 GAA)
VAN- Curtis Sanford (08-09 stats: 5-5-0, 2.71 GAA)

Injury Report:
ANA- Teemu Selanne (thigh, out), Francois Beauchemin (knee, out), Brad Larsen (sports hernia)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (groin, out), Sami Salo (ribs, out), Rick Rypien (sports hernia, out), Ryan Johnson (finger, out)

Last Ten Games:
Ducks (6-4-0) … Canucks (4-5-1)

Season Series:
1-0 Canucks

Game Thoughts:
Look for the Canucks to turn it around tonight after they get over their hangover from the Sundin signing. The Ducks haven’t played well in the last couple games, and could come out flat with the loss of Selanne.

Prediction: Canucks 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Penguins
Thrashers over Maple Leafs
Oilers over Coyotes

Injury updates

Two key injuries for the Bruins and Blue Jackets, respectively...
The Bruins' Patrice Bergeron was diagnosed with a concussion today as he was released from the hospital. Bergeron was hit by Dennis Seidenberg during yesterday's game against Carolina. Let's see if this throws off Boston's game at all. It didn't tonight, as they won in St. Louis 6-3.
In Columbus, the Columbus Post Dispatch reports that C Derick Brassard, who was considered as an early candidate for the Calder Trophy, is out for the season with a dislocated shoulder. This is a huge blow to Brassard and the Jackets.

If the season ended today...

Here are my playoff predictions:
East
1) Bruins over 8) Sabres in 5
7) Penguins over 2) Rangers in 7
3) Capitals over 6) Devils in 6
4) Flyers over 5) Canadiens in 6

1) Bruins over 7) Penguins in 5
4) Flyers over 3) Capitals in 6

4) Flyers over 1) Bruins in 7

West
1) Sharks over 8) Predators in 5
2) Red Wings over 7) Coyotes in 5
6) Ducks over 3) Flames in 7
5) Canucks over 4) Blackhawks in 7

1) Sharks over 6) Ducks in 6
5) Canucks over 2) Red Wings in 6

1) Sharks over 5) Canucks in 6

Stanley Cup Finals
Flyers over Sharks in 6
Conn Smythe: Mike Richards, Flyers

Morning Skate: Sunday, 12/21

Today’s Slate:
Flyers @ Devils, 1:00 ET
Avalanche @ Panthers, 5:00
Bruins @ Blues, 6:00
Hurricanes @ Canadiens, 7:00

Game of the Day:
Philadelphia Flyers (18-8-6) @ New Jersey Devils (18-9-3)
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
PHI- Mike Richards
Has 5 assists in the 3 games against NJ, and could have a good game after a quiet game yesterday.
NJ- Patrik Elias
Elias is on an absolute tear as he’s gotten a point in 14 of the last 15 games (27 points).

Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Antero Niittymaki (Yesterday vs. WSH: 47 Saves, 1 GA)
NJ- Scott Clemmensen (Friday vs. OTT: 24 Saves, 1 GA)

Injury Report:
PHI- Daniel Briere (groin, out), Randy Jones (hip, out), Ryan Parent (shoulder, out), Derian Hatcher (knee, out)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (elbow, out), Bryce Salvador (upper body, questionable), John Madden (illness/back, probable)

Last Ten Games:
Flyers (7-2-1) … Devils (7-2-1)

Season Series:
2-1 Flyers

Game Thoughts:
New Jersey is 6-1 in their last 7 at home, and will host the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers today. Philly blasted the Capitals 7-1 yesterday, and the Devils beat Ottawa on Friday. The Flyers scored too many goals yesterday, and will have an off-day today. Look for Parise and Elias to lead the Devils to a win.

Prediction: Devils 4, Flyers 2
The rest of today’s predictions:
Panthers over Avalanche
Blues over Bruins
Canadiens over Hurricanes

Selanne's freak injury

Anaheim's Teemu Selanne caught a horrible break his lacerating his own thigh Friday night in Edmonton. As a result, he'll miss 4-6 weeks. Bad news for both Selanne and the Anaheim organization, as he leads the NHL in power play goals.

The Program

Hi everyone, I thought you might enjoy this podcast: versusnhls Podcast

Saturday Fantasy #11

Here is our 11th edition of 'Saturday Fantasy'! In case you're new to the RLD, Chris (from The Program) and I will select 3 players each Saturday to have a good day fantasy-wise. We pick a forward, defenseman, and goalie each time, and I keep up with the stats on the right-hand side of this page. Here is our picks...
Chris
F- Jeff Carter, PHI
D- Dan Boyle, SJ*
G- Evgeni Nabokov, SJ
Ryan
F- Phil Kessel, BOS
D- Matt Hunwick, BOS
G- Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT

*This is the 2nd time Chris has used Boyle

Morning Skate Deluxe: Saturday, 12/20

Today’s Slate:
Hurricanes @ Bruins, 1:00 ET
Capitals @ Flyers, 1:00
Sabres @ Canadiens, 7:00
Stars @ Senators, 7:00
Maple Leafs @ Penguins, 7:00
Lightning @ Thrashers, 7:00
Kings @ Red Wings, 7:00
Islanders @ Predators, 8:00
Wild @ Blues, 8:30
Blue Jackets @ Coyotes, 9:00
Blackhawks @ Canucks, 10:00
Rangers @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Day:
Game #1: Washington Capitals (20-10-3) @ Philadelphia Flyers (17-8-6)
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
WSH- Mike Green
Green is the table setter for the Caps; and if he plays, he needs to have a great game.
PHI- Mike Richards
The Flyers’ captain has 13 points in 8 games this month.

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Brent Johnson (08-09 stats: 10-4-2, 2.46 GAA)
PHI- Antero Niittymaki (08-09 stats: 6-2-2, 2.84 GAA)

Injury Report:
WSH- Alexander Semin (back, questionable), Mike Green (shoulder, questionable), Sergei Fedorov (ankle, questionable), John Erskine (concussion, questionable), Brian Pothier (concussion, out), Chris Clark (arm, out), Jeff Schultz (finger, out)
PHI- Daniel Briere (groin, out), Randy Jones (hip, out), Ryan Parent (shoulder, out), Derian Hatcher (knee, out)

Last Ten Games:
Capitals (7-3-0) … Flyers (6-2-2)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
The last time these two met, Joffrey Lupul ended Washington’s season in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in last spring’s playoffs. The Caps could have injury issues as Green and Semin have suffered similar injuries to their previous ones a week or two. Philly is looking to rebound after a lackluster performance in Montreal on Thursday. I believe the Flyers will get back on track against the high-flying Caps.

Prediction: Flyers 5, Capitals 4
-----
Game #2: New York Rangers (22-11-2) @ San Jose Sharks (25-4-3)
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
NYR- Nigel Dawes
New York will need secondary scoring to beat San Jose, and Dawes could come through.
SJ- Devin Setoguchi
Setoguchi always seems to score big goals at home.

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 18-9-2, 2.49 GAA)
SJ- Brian Boucher (08-09 stats: 8-1-1, 1.88 GAA)

Injury Report:
NYR- None
SJ- Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Milan Michalek (upper body, probable), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)

Last Ten Games:
Rangers (6-4-0) … Sharks (7-1-2)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Game Thoughts:
Goals will be hard to come by tonight at The Tank as two good defensive teams square off in a rare matchup. The Blueshirts complete their Pacific swing after defeating the Ducks and Kings earlier this week. San Jose can’t go anywhere but up after the embarrassment that was Thursday at the Joe. This game could go either way, but look for the Sharks to be charged up by coming back home, where they’re 16-0-2 this season.

Prediction: Sharks 3, Rangers 1
The rest of today’s predictions:
Bruins over Hurricanes
Canadiens over Sabres
Senators over Stars
Penguins over Maple Leafs
Thrashers over Lightning
Red Wings over Kings
Predators over Islanders
Wild over Blues
Coyotes over Blue Jackets
Blackhawks over Canucks

Upset alert- Detroit vs. Los Angeles
Folks, don’t be surprised to see the Kings go into Detroit and beat the Wings tonight. Even though I’m not picking LA, I smell a letdown from the Wings after their 6-0 win over the Sharks.

Morning Skate: Friday, 12/19

Tonight’s Slate:
Senators @ Devils, 7:00 ET
Kings @ Sabres, 7:30
Islanders @ Wild, 8:00
Blackhawks @ Flames, 9:00
Ducks @ Oilers, 9:00

Game of the Night:
Chicago Blackhawks (16-6-7) @ Calgary Flames (18-11-3)
9:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
CHI- Patrick Kane
The super sophomore picked up 3 points in their first meeting, and is red-hot right now.
CGY- Mike Cammalleri
Cammalleri has a good track record against the ‘Hawks, but needs to play more consistently.

Projected Goaltenders:
CHI- Cristobal Huet (December stats: 4-0-1, 1.58 GAA)
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (Career vs. CHI: 8-5-1, 2.47 GAA)

Injury Report:
CHI- Adam Burish (leg, out), Aaron Johnson (ribs, out)
CGY- Curtis Glencross (leg, out), Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Jim Vandermeer (foot, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)

Last Ten Games:
Blackhawks (6-2-2) … Flames (6-2-2)

Season Series:
1-0 Blackhawks

Game Thoughts:
This should be a very interesting game as Chicago is coming off a 9-2 win in Edmonton on Tuesday night. Calgary rebounded from a 3-game losing streak with back-to-back road wins this week. I can see this game going either way, scoring wise. It’ll either be a shootout or a hard fought low-scoring affair. I’m guessing the latter, and that the Flames will be able to pull out a tight one.

Prediction: Flames 3, Blackhawks 2
The rest of today’s predictions:
Devils over Senators
Sabres over Kings
Wild over Islanders
Oilers over Ducks

FINALLY!!

It's about freakin' time...

Mats Sundin has signed with the Vancouver Canucks, and has ended his 5-month free agent period. The contract is 1 year for a pro-rated amount of $10 million. This is HUGE for the Canucks, who were lacking that big-time player to go along the Sedins up front. I believe he makes Vancouver the obvious favorite in the Northwest at this moment. Here are the possible line combos for the Canucks once the Swede enters the lineup in a couple weeks:
1- D. Sedin / Sundin / H. Sedin

2- Demitra / Wellwood / Bernier

3- Burrows / Kesler / Hansen

4- Pyatt / Johnson / Raymond

If Luongo comes back strong, Canucks fans should be ecstatic as the Wings and Sharks are the only two 'great' teams in the West. I also believe GM Mike Gillis could acquire another defenseman to bolster the blue line.

It will certainly be interesting to see how this team responds to the great news. They have 3 big games before Christmas, so they must remain focus and not start dreaming about Sundin's arrival, which is reportedly going to be on December 27.

Morning Skate: Thursday, 12/18

Tonight’s Slate:
Maple Leafs @ Bruins, 7:00 ET
Blues @ Capitals, 7:00
Panthers @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Penguins @ Thrashers, 7:00
Flyers @ Canadiens, 7:00
Avalanche @ Lightning, 7:30
Sharks @ Red Wings, 7:30
Blue Jackets @ Stars, 8:30
Predators @ Coyotes, 9:00

Game of the Night:
San Jose Sharks (25-3-3) @ Detroit Red Wings (20-6-4)
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
SJ- Patrick Marleau
The captain of Team Teal has been good historically against Detroit.
DET- Brian Rafalski
He’s quietly having a good year, and has been hot lately.

Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (Last night at CLB: 30 saves, 2 GA, OTL)
DET- Ty Conklin (08-09 stats: 8-4-0, 2.75 GAA)

Injury Report:
SJ- Jeremy Roenick (shoulder, out), Jonathan Cheechoo (upper body, doubtful), Joe Pavelski (lower body, doubtful), Torrey Mitchell (leg, out)
DET- Darren McCarty (groin, out), Chris Osgood (groin, doubtful)

Last Ten Games:
Sharks (8-0-2) … Red Wings (6-4-0)

Season Series:
1-0 Sharks

Thoughts on the Game:
These are easily the two best teams in the West, and the Sharks got the better of the October matchup in San Jose, 4-2. I expect the Sharks to play better after last night’s overtime loss in Columbus. Detroit is coming off a frustrating 3-2 home loss to rival Colorado, and will be looking to bounce back as well. This game will come down to the Wings’ defense against San Jose’s top line. The Sharks are a bit shorthanded with injuries to Pavelski and Roenick, so they’ll lean even more on their top unit of Thornton, Marleau, and Setoguchi.

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Sharks 3
The rest of today’s predictions:
Bruins over Maple Leafs
Capitals over Blues
Hurricanes over Panthers
Penguins over Thrashers
Flyers over Canadiens
Lightning over Avalanche
Stars over Blue Jackets
Coyotes over Predators

Trevor Linden tribute

Here's a video tribute to Trevor Linden, one of the best players to ever play in the Canucks organization. Tonight, his #16 will be retired as Vancouver hosts the Oilers, who got embarrased last night by Chicago at home.

Morning Skate: Wednesday, 12/17

Tonight’s Slate:
Devils @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Sharks @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Flames @ Wild, 8:00
Oilers @ Canucks, 10:30
Rangers @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the Night:
Calgary Flames (17-11-3) @ Minnesota Wild (15-13-1)
8:00 ET… TV: TSN, NHL Net.-US, Local Networks

Players to watch:
CGY- David Moss
He has 5 goals in the last 8 games, and seems to score when the team needs one.
MIN- Marian Gaborik
Obvious choice here, as Gabby might make his anticipated return to the lineup.

Projected Goaltenders:
CGY- Miikka Kiprusoff (08-09 stats: 17-10-2, 2.89 GAA)
MIN- Niklas Backstrom (08-09 stats: 14-10-1, 2.28 GAA)

Injury Report:
CGY- Curtis Glencross (leg, out), Jim Vandermeer (foot, out), Wayne Primeau (foot, out), Brandon Prust (jaw, out), Rhett Warrener (shoulder, out)
MIN- Owen Nolan (leg, out), Kurtis Foster (leg, out)

Last Ten Games:
Flames (6-2-2) … Wild (3-7-0)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Prediction: Wild 2, Flames 1 (OT)
The rest of today’s predictions:
Devils over Sabres
Sharks over Blue Jackets
Wild over Flames
Canucks over Oilers
Rangers over Kings

News & Notes

I am back to blogging after a 2-3 week hiatus!! I'm glad to be back and looking forward to making this blog bigger & better in the future.

News & Notes from today...
- Marian Gaborik's return is imminent, and is hoping to be in the lineup Wednesday night when Minnesota hosts the Flames. Contrary to a previous belief of mine, the Wild need 'Gabby' right now as they have scored 5 goals in the last 5 games. It'll be interesting to see what GM Doug Risebrough does if the return of the Slovakian sparks this team.
- Mats Sundin's decision is on the horizon. He's supposedly down to the Canucks and Rangers. I do not think New York should sign Sundin as they would have to unload Gomez and/or Rozsival to create room. And eventhough those two are struggling this year, it could cause a stir in the locker room. Vancouver should be his destination, in my opinion, because GM Mike Gillis would not have to make any moves to clear cap space.
- Is Peter Forsberg returning?? Possibly. He has stated in the Denver Post that he'd like to make another mid-season return, preferrably with the Avalanche. Foppa... come back to Nashville!!!
- And there's some great news out of the Music City. Steve Sullivan, who severely hurt his back in February 2007, skated with the team in practice today. It's probably wishful thinking for Pred Nation, but wouldn't it be great to have him back for the stretch run (knock on wood)?? All in all, it's great to hear that he's lacing up the skates with his teammates once again!

POWER RANKINGS: Dec. 16

1. San Jose Sharks
Last Week: 1
Overall: 25-3-2
Last Ten: 9-0-1
Week Record: 3-0
San Jose is the first team since the 1929-30 Bruins to win 25 of their first 30 games. It’s truly remarkable what they’ve done this year. They are very capable of eclipsing the 130-point mark, and becoming the best team we’ve seen in a while. The question still remains… can they seal the deal come playoff time??

2. Boston Bruins
Last Week: 2
Overall: 21-5-4
Last Ten: 8-2
Week Record: 2-1
The 21-year-old sensation Phil Kessel is in the midst of an NHL season-high 15-game point streak, and the Bruins are 12-2-1 in that stretch. Boston has a key 5-game road trip starting this weekend, including games in New Jersey and Pittsburgh. If they get through this trip unscathed, the Bruins could start to separate themselves atop the Northeast with a 6-game homestand to open up January; they are 11-1-1 at home.

3. Detroit Red Wings
Last Week: 3
Overall: 20-6-4
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-2
Detroit is in unfamiliar territory, stats wise, as they rank 25th in the NHL in goals against. Who would’ve known that Ottawa, Los Angeles, Florida, Edmonton, Colorado, Columbus, Carolina, and Tampa Bay would all rank higher in this category at this point in the season?? But the Red Wings are the Red Wings, and I expect them to hit their stride sooner rather than later.

4. Philadelphia Flyers
Last Week: 7
Overall: 16-7-6
Last Ten: 7-1-2
Week Record: 3-0
This is the team all of us were expecting before the season started. Philly is 12-1-3 since November 11, and is scoring almost 3.5 goals a game in that span. And the best thing for them is that everyone is chipping in, and the goaltending has come around. It won’t get any easier for them, though, as they face three key opponents later this week (Montreal, Washington, and New Jersey) in a 4-day span.

5. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: 6
Overall: 17-11-3
Last Ten: 7-3
Week Record: 2-1
Randy Carlisle’s bunch has been good at home lately, but they must show they can win away from the Honda Center. They’ve lost their last three road games, and have a 5-game road trip starting later this week. Anaheim can enter that trip on a good note by beating the Rangers at home tonight.

6. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 10
Overall: 16-9-2
Last Ten: 8-2
Week Record: 2-1
This Devils team has impressed me in the time that Martin Brodeur has been out of the lineup. Scott Clemmensen is playing the best he’s ever played, and Zach Parise is coming into his own. They deserve to be recognized, no doubt. But the true test is coming over the next couple weeks. New Jersey has to play 9 games in the next 15 days and will face-off against 7 other teams from the East. Let’s see what they can do…

7. Washington Capitals
Last Week: 15
Overall: 18-10-3
Last Ten: 7-3
Week Record: 3-0
The Caps’ recent injury-barrage didn’t stop them from winning 3 games in which they just allowed one goal in each game. Green, Semin, and Fedorov seem to be healthy, and Brent Johnson is holding the fort between the pipes. And here’s some interesting numbers on Ovechkin:
First 11 games… 2 goals, 6 assists
Since then (20 gms)… 15 goals, 17 assists

8. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 13
Overall: 15-6-7
Last Ten: 6-2-2
Week Record: 3-0
I had concerns about this club when Khabibulin went down to injury last month at The Tank. Huet has responded nicely, though, as the ‘Hawks are 5-2-1 since then. It’d be great for them to have ‘Bulin and Huet on the top of their games as they approach the All-Star Break. And, oh by the way, Chicago has sold out all 15 games at the United Center this season.

9. New York Rangers
Last Week: 9
Overall: 20-11-2
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-1
The Blueshirts are making the vaunted Pacific Coast trip this week, which has become a trap for teams around the league. King Henrik needs to be on his A-game on this rare jaunt, and avoid giving up 8 goals in a single game. This team has been inconsistent since their hot start as the Rangers are having some trouble putting the puck in the back of the net.

10. Calgary Flames
Last Week: 4
Overall: 16-11-3
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 0-1-2
Calgary is one of the harder teams to figure out. After a hot stretch, they went winless last week and blew a chance to beat the Wings at the Joe. The Flames can turn it around, though, with a 5-game homestand to end the month of December.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 8
Overall: 16-10-4
Last Ten: 4-5-1
Week Record: 1-2
Marc-Andre Fleury is coming back just at the nick of time as the Pens barely survived a rugged 7-game-in-11-day stretch… they came out of it 2-4-1. It’s amazing that 87 and 71 are the top two in the league in points, and assists. I’m positive that Pittsburgh will claw back into the top 10 next Tuesday with a relatively easy week ahead of ‘em.

12. Montreal Canadiens
Last Week: 5
Overall: 16-8-5
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 1-2
I’m sure I’m not the only one that is disappointed with the Habs’ first 29 games. They are a very mediocre 7-6-3 over the last month or so. And the bad news for the Montreal faithful… the injury bug is starting to plague their lineup. They are ranked a shocking 29th on the power play, and seem to be pressing in their centennial season.

13. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 12
Overall: 15-12-3
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 1-1-1
My Preds haven’t been able to settle in at home, which could be a reason why Dan Ellis and company can’t get in a groove. Nashville has played 17 of their first 30 games on the road. It’s a good sign, then, since they have a home-laden schedule in January and February, and have survived this stretch in line for a playoff spot if the season ended today.

14. Vancouver Canucks
Last Week: 14
Overall: 17-11-3
Last Ten: 4-5-1
Week Record: 2-1
Settle in, Canucks fans… your team will be playing in front of you guys a lot in the coming weeks. From now up to the All-Star Break, Vancouver has 12 games at home and only 5 on the road. This is a great opportunity for them to rack up some points while Luongo recovers from his groin injury.

15. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: 11
Overall: 15-13-1
Last Ten: 3-7
Week Record: 0-3
They should probably be ranked lower, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt since their sudden 5-game losing streak has basically gone down away from home. Niklas Backstrom hasn’t been himself lately, and the power play is, well, powerless. They are 2/18 in this losing streak on the man advantage. That needs to get turned around as they have 6 of 8 at home to say goodbye to 2008.

16. Colorado Avalanche
Last Week: 19
Overall: 15-14-1
Last Ten: 6-3-1
Week Record: 2-1
Colorado has been good recently, but I still doubt their lasting power. They don’t have much scoring depth, and Budaj and Raycroft aren’t exactly catalysts between the pipes. The Avs’ next 8 games could propel them in the west, or put them in the basement. They play in Philly tonight and make the swing through Florida by week’s end; then they get 4 western foes to top things off.

17. Buffalo Sabres
Last Week: 16
Overall: 15-12-3
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 2-1
Just another team I can’t figure out. First, they lose 2-1 to a less-talented Toronto team at home… then turn around the next day and win in Jersey. I don’t get it and the next 2 weeks could define their season. They play 5 key games, and need to come out on the better end. This is a team trying to find their identity while trying to keep up with the rest of the East.

18. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 17
Overall: 14-12-2
Last Ten: 6-4
Week Record: 1-1
This team could really use a big string of home games… oh wait, that’s just around the corner. 12 of their 18 games heading into the All-Star Break are at Rexall Place. To tell the truth, they could make a surge in this stretch if the rest of the division continues to play inconsistently hockey. Keep an eye on this team.

19. Florida Panthers
Last Week: 21
Overall: 14-13-3
Last Ten: 6-2-2
Week Record: 2-1
One thing that’s been striking about their decent start: 12 games at home, 18 on the road. So you could assume that their best hockey is ahead of them. And could they actually sneak into the playoffs this year?? I wouldn’t put it past them, especially if Craig Anderson stays hot and unseats Vokoun in net for good.

20. Phoenix Coyotes
Last Week: 26
Overall: 14-13-3
Last Ten: 6-3-1
Week Record: 2-0-1
Talk about sneaking up on people. When you think things are getting uncomfortable in the desert after the 7-1 loss at Chicago, the Coyotes put together a good week of hockey. They may be 10th in the west as we speak, but they’re just 6 points back from the ‘Hawks, who’s in 4th. There are winnable games in the near future for the ‘Yotes, so don’t be surprised if they make a surge before the new calendar year.

21. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 22
Overall: 13-12-5
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 2-1-1
Ladies and gentlemen, the LA Kings are in a 4-way tie for 8th in the west, and no, it’s not October. We are in December, and the Kings are a legit contender for a playoff spot. Terry Murray deserves a lot of credit for turning the attitude around in SoCal. The Kings are in every game and don’t give up. Those teams always have a chance come March/April.

22. Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week: 18
Overall: 13-12-5
Last Ten: 2-5-3
Week Record: 0-0-2
Seriously, what has happened with this team since their 2006 Cup run?? Who knows. But just when you think things couldn’t get worse in Raleigh, they blow a 4 goal lead – in the 3rd period – to the Flyers, and then lose in OT. Carolina’s going to miss out on the playoffs if they don’t make any changes to their offensive personnel. They just don’t have the talent anymore.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 23
Overall: 13-14-3
Last Ten: 4-6
Week Record: 2-1
It’s gut check time in Ohio’s capital… 8 road games in the next 11. The Jackets’ true colors really will come out in the next few weeks. Steve Mason will be put to the test, and Rick Nash may have to put this team on his shoulders.

24. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 20
Overall: 12-14-3
Last Ten: 3-6-1
Week Record: 0-3
They had San Jose on the ropes, but couldn’t close the deal. That’s kind of been the story of the 08-09 Blues thus far. They’ll face a brutal slate for the rest of the month, too, and it could bury them in the west with Legace out with another injury.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 25
Overall: 11-12-6
Last Ten: 4-4-2
Week Record: 1-0
There’s really nothing good or bad to say about with these Leafs. I guess something worth mentioning is that they’re 4-3 since the organization brought in Brian Burke. Could he work his magic and bring in Gaborik or Kovalchuk to spice things up in the east?? Something to think about.

26. Ottawa Senators
Last Week: 24
Overall: 11-12-5
Last Ten: 5-3-2
Week Record: 1-2
Here’s a stat that jumped out at me: Ottawa is 4th in goals against, and 29th in goals for. Isn’t that supposed to be the other way around?? And their season-defining trip is staring them in the face. 8 straight road games in 17 days (against tough opponents). Good luck, Sens!

27. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 27
Overall: 11-14-4
Last Ten: 5-5
Week Record: 1-2
I’m not even going to get into the Avery situation. But since his suspension, the Stars are 3-3. In the 3 wins, they’ve given up a total of 3 goals. In the losses, 13 pucks have eluded the Dallas goaltender. (Sigh)… can I have my Cup pick back!?

28. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 30
Overall: 7-15-8
Last Ten: 1-7-2
Week Record: 1-2
The only reason the Bolts jumped over the bottom two is because they actually won a game this week – at Montreal. This is still the most dysfunctional team in the league. Will Tocchet be the bench boss in 2009-10??

29. Atlanta Thrashers
Last Week: 29
Overall: 9-16-4
Last Ten: 2-6-2
Week Record: 0-2-1
You know what… I actually feel bad for these guys. They give 100% every night but don’t have the goaltending to back them up. Atlanta’s 2-9-2 since their 5-game winning streak in mid-November.

30. New York Islanders
Last Week: 28
Overall: 10-18-2
Last Ten: 2-8
Week Record: 0-3
0-6 in December… need I say more?? Yes. They’ve been out-scored 30-12 this month. Ok, now I’m done!

Morning Skate: Tuesday, 12/16

Tonight’s Slate:
Capitals @ Islanders, 7:00 ET
Avalanche @ Flyers, 7:00
Canadiens @ Hurricanes, 7:00
Devils @ Maple Leafs, 7:00
Thrashers @ Senators, 7:30
Flames @ Blues, 8:30
Coyotes @ Stars, 8:30
Blackhawks @ Oilers, 9:30
Rangers @ Ducks, 10:00

Game of the Night:
New York Rangers (20-11-2) @ Anaheim Ducks (17-11-3)
10:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Players to watch:
NYR- Michal Rozsival
The underachieving d-man is a -9 in the last 7 games… gotta step it up!
ANA- Corey Perry
Perry will get a goal in his 2nd straight game.

Projected Goaltenders:
NYR- Henrik Lundqvist (08-09 stats: 17-9-2, 2.54 GAA)
ANA- Jean-Sebastien Giguere (08-09 stats: 11-7-2, 2.86 GAA)

Injury Report:
NYR- None
ANA- Francois Beauchemin (knee, out), Brad Larsen (sports hernia, out)

Last Ten Games:
Rangers (6-4-0) … Ducks (7-3-0)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Prediction: Ducks 3, Rangers 0
The rest of today’s predictions:
Capitals over Islanders
Flyers over Avalanche
Canadiens over Hurricanes
Devils over Maple Leafs
Thrashers over Senators
Flames over Blues
Stars over Coyotes
Oilers over Blackhawks

Blogger needed!!

When I return from my hiatus after Christmas, I would really like to have another blogger who could contribute to the Red Light District 1 or 2 times a week. Please, if you're at all interested, send me an email at predsfan4life_9_29@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Ryan (director of RLD)

Morning Skate: Monday, 12/15

Tonight’s Slate:
Avalanche @ Red Wings, 7:00 ET
Sharks @ Kings, 10:30

Game of the Night:
Colorado Avalanche (14-14-1) @ Detroit Red Wings (20-5-4)
7:00 ET… TV: VERSUS, TSN 2

Players to watch:
COL- Ryan Smyth
Smyth needs to display his grit in front of the net for the Avs come away with the ‘W’.
DET- Marian Hossa
Hossa could break out his slump (by his standards) tonight.

Projected Goaltenders:
COL- Peter Budaj (08-09 stats: 11-13-1, 2.73 GAA)
DET- Chris Osgood (08-09 stats: 12-1-4, 3.20 GAA)

Injury Report:
COL- Joe Sakic (back & hand, out), Marek Svatos (back, questionable), Darcy Tucker (knee, out), Ben Guite (ribs, out), Brian Willsie (knee, out)
DET- Darren McCarty (groin, out)

Last Ten Games:
Avalanche (5-4-1) … Red Wings (6-3-1)

Season Series:
1st Meeting

Prediction: Red Wings 4, Avalanche 2
The rest of today’s predictions:
Sharks over Kings