Morning Skate: December 31

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Blue Jackets 3, Maple Leafs 2
Thrashers 3, Bruins 2 (SO)
Lightning 4, Canadiens 1
Sharks 5, Blackhawks 3
Avalanche 4, Oilers 3 (SO)
Flyers 7, Kings 4
Predictions record: 5-1


My 3 stars of the night:
1. Steven Stamkos, TB (2 Goals, 2 Assists)… Stamkos was in on all four Tampa Bay goals as they cruised past sputtering Montreal.
2. Mike Richards, PHI (2 Goals, 2 Assists)
3. Kristian Huselius, CBJ (2 Goals)
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Tonight’s Slate:
Thrashers @ Devils, 5:00 ET
Canadiens @ Panthers, 5:00
Predators @ Wild, 6:00
Islanders @ Red Wings, 7:00
Senators @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Flyers @ Ducks, 8:00
Canucks @ Stars, 8:00
Coyotes @ Blues, 8:30
Avalanche @ Flames, 9:00

Games of the Night:
Vancouver Canucks @ Dallas Stars
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Canucks (22-8-5) … Stars (22-12-4)
Last Ten: Canucks (8-0-2) … Stars (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Canucks (9-5-3) … Stars (12-5-3)
Season Series (09/10): 3-1 Canucks

Players to watch:
VAN- Ryan Kesler
Kesler has been clutch for the Canucks with 19 points in December.
DAL- Brad Richards
There’s been no stopping Richards, who has been solid vs. Vancouver in his career.

Projected Goaltenders:
VAN- Cory Schneider (2010/11 stats: 5-0-2, 2.56 GAA)
DAL- Kari Lehtonen (2010/11 stats: 15-9-4, 2.60 GAA)

Injury Report:
VAN- Mason Raymond (thumb, out), Sami Salo (Achilles, out), Guillaume Desbiens (hand, out)
DAL- None

Game Thoughts:
A pair of division leaders faceoff tonight in Dallas. The Stars dropped a 7-3 decision to Detroit on Wednesday, so they’ll be looking to rebound. Vancouver drilled Philadelphia, 6-2, in their last game. Marc Crawford’s club is in the midst of a big litmus test week, while the Canucks will begin a six-game-in-nine-nights stretch. Go with the Stars here…
Prediction: Stars 3, Canucks 2


The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Thrashers over Devils
Canadiens over Panthers
Predators over Wild
Red Wings over Islanders
Senators over Blue Jackets
Ducks over Flyers
Blues over Coyotes
Flames over Avalanche
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Video of the Day:


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