Morning Skate: December 15

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Flyers 3, Penguins 2
Maple Leafs 4, Oilers 1
Predictions record: 1-1


My 3 stars of the night:
1. Scott Hartnell, PHI (1 Goal, 1 Assist)… Hartnell tipped home the game-winner to give Philly the win and end Pittsburgh’s win streak.
2. Evgeni Malkin, PIT (2 Goals)
3. Phil Kessel, TOR (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
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Tonight’s Slate:
Bruins @ Sabres, 7:00 ET
Coyotes @ Devils, 7:00
Rangers @ Penguins, 7:00
Ducks @ Capitals, 7:00
Blues @ Red Wings, 7:30
Flyers @ Canadiens, 7:30
Thrashers @ Lightning, 7:30
Hurricanes @ Panthers, 7:30
Sharks @ Predators, 8:00
Avalanche @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Blue Jackets @ Canucks, 10:00

Games of the Night:
Atlanta Thrashers @ Tampa Bay Lightning
7:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Thrashers (17-11-3) … Lightning (16-10-4)
Last Ten: Thrashers (8-2-0) … Lightning (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Thrashers (8-5-2) … Lightning (7-2-2)
Season Series: 2-0 Lightning

Players to watch:
ATL- Dustin Byfuglien
The early-season Norris candidate is averaging more than a point per game.
TB- Teddy Purcell
With Downie’s injury, Purcell has taken his spot on the Bolts’ top line.

Projected Goaltenders:
ATL- Ondrej Pavelec (2010/11 stats: 10-6-2, 1.85 GAA)
TB- Mike Smith (2010/11 stats: 8-5-0, 3.57 GAA)

Injury Report:
ATL- None
TB- Steve Downie (ankle, out), Mattias Ritola (illness, questionable)

Game Thoughts:
These two Southeast Division foes are looking to catch the slumping Capitals as they face-off tonight. Atlanta’s hot streak has put them two points behind the Caps, while Tampa Bay sits three points back. Steven Stamkos and company have taken the first two of the season series, but I believe Ondrej Pavelec is the difference in this one.
Prediction: Thrashers 4, Lightning 3 (SO)
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San Jose Sharks @ Nashville Predators
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Sharks (15-10-5) … Predators (15-8-6)
Last Ten: Sharks (5-4-1) … Predators (6-1-3)
Away/Home: Sharks (7-6-2) … Predators (7-1-5)
Season Series (09/10): 3-1 Sharks

Players to watch:
SJ- Dany Heatley
‘Heater’ has had success vs. Nashville in his career (14 points in 9 games).
NSH- Sergei Kostitsyn
SK74 is starting to fit in with the Preds and is currently on a six-game point streak.

Projected Goaltenders:
SJ- Antti Niemi (2010/11 stats: 6-7-2, 3.16 GAA)
NSH- Anders Lindback (2010/11 stats: 7-1-2, 2.18 GAA)

Injury Report:
SJ- Devin Setoguchi (upper body, probable), Douglas Murray (lower body, doubtful), Kent Huskins (upper body, out)
NSH- Pekka Rinne (knee, out), Patric Hornqvist (upper body, out), David Legwand (lower body, out), Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out)

Game Thoughts:
Games in the Western Conference here in December will make a difference come April, and this is one of them. The surging Predators host the inconsistent Sharks tonight in Nashville. Lindback has been the story for the Preds, but the whole team has kicked their game into another gear. Will San Jose put a halt to their momentum? It should be a good one…
Prediction: Predators 3, Sharks 2 (OT)
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Wednesday Game of the Week:
Philadelphia Flyers (20-7-5) @ Montreal Canadiens (18-10-2)
7:30 ET… TV: TSN, Local Networks
Season Series: Tied 1-1

Prediction: Canadiens 3, Flyers 1
More to come from this game…
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The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Sabres over Bruins
Coyotes over Devils
Penguins over Rangers
Capitals over Ducks
Red Wings over Blues
Hurricanes over Panthers
Blackhawks over Avalanche
Canucks over Blue Jackets
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Morning Links:
- Sporting News… Craig Custance has a piece previewing tonight’s HBO series 24/7 (which starts tonight), and whether the real side of Crosby will come out.
- SI… Stu Hackel thinks the Caps’ recent woes could be beneficial in the long run. I agree.
- Five For Howling... The Coyotes are staying Glendale after a late-night vote from the City of Glendale!
- Pro Hockey Talk… The story of Crosby, Ovechkin and Roenick appearing on The Price Is Right next week.
- Spector’s Hockey… An update on the Evgeni Nabokov situation.
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Video of the Day:


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