16 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's games in this thread.

NYI at NJD
Buffalo at NYR
Florida at Philadelphia
Calgary at Minnesota
STL at Chicago

[Duckbill]

May the two western games avoid overtime. I guess it's a big night in hockey if you live in the New York area.

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips:

Wrong news spreads quickly ...

Rob Niedermayer hurt his groin early in Sunday's 4-3, overtime victory over San Jose. After missing three games in late October because of a groin problem, he said this one isn't as serious and expressed hope he will be ready to play Thursday at Nashville. - Orange County Register

Like the Hurricanes, whose roster has been decimated by a viral bug the last 10 games, the Bruins are in the throes of flu-like symptoms. The bug had Tim Thomas, Peter Schaefer, and Shawn Thornton abstaining from yesterday's workout, which included only nine forwards, five defensemen, and one goalie, Alex Auld (goalie coach Bob Essensa filled in admirably in the other net). The pervasive illness, said coach Claude Julien, had the training staff taking extra precautions in terms of sanitization.
Julien said a CT scan of P.J. Axelsson's right foot was encouraging. "If something is broken, it's very slight," said Julien. "I don't think he's going to be out for weeks - more like four days or a week." Hit by a shot last Thursday, Axelsson did not play in Saturday's OT win at Philly. - Boston Globe

Brian Campbell, the Sabres' lone All-Star and a free agent-to-be, announced Monday he is done negotiating with the Sabres until the season is over. The Sabres had been hopeful they would sign the 28-year-old defenseman long before he got close to free agency. - Buffalo News

Maxim Afinogenov had his first full practice with the Buffalo Sabres since injuring his groin Jan. 3. Coach Lindy Ruff figures the right winger will miss his sixth straight game Wednesday when the Sabres visit the New York Rangers. - Buffalo News

Scott Walker participate in full-contact drills on Monday in practice. He hopes to return from his knee injury by the end of the Week. Centre Matt Cullen, who is out with a concussion is also hoping to return by the end of the week. - News Observer

The Blackhawks' goaltending solution is pretty simple: Win and you're in. These days that means Patrick Lalime will get the call Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues, and if he performs well he will keep playing. "I'm going to [play] him as long as I can if he keeps winning," coach Denis Savard said of Lalime. "If Patrick loses a game I'll put [Nikolai Khabibulin] back in, and if he puts a string together, he's going to keep playing. I'm just going to go with the guy playing well and winning."
James Wisniewski participated in the Hawks' practice at the United Center and is expected to return from a sprained knee Friday against the Avalanche in Colorado. "I was looking forward to getting back on the ice and I kept bugging [the doctors], so I think they just finally said: 'It's up to you.'"
Savard said Dave Bolland, who hasn't played since suffering a broken finger Dec. 23, could return in a week to 10 days.
Winger Jason Williams (groin) is feeling better and likely will skate Wednesday. - Chicago Tribune

Defenseman Cory Murphy practiced with the team Tuesday for the first time since bruising his left shoulder Nov. 13. After practicing, Murphy said he is pain-free and eager to get back to anchoring the Panthers' power-play unit. "The thing right now is just trying to get the strength back," said Murphy, who has missed 27 games since the injury. "The pain is gone. I'm trying to get stronger, because I haven't really done much for a while." Murphy said there is no timetable for his return. He hopes to be back after the All-Star break. - Miami Herald

Rob Blake set a Kings franchise record for games played by a defenseman, appearing in his 781st contest. Mattias Norstrom held the previous mark.
Los Angeles forward Brian Willsie sat out with a sore lower back. Recently called up Teddy Purcell played in his place. - LA Daily News

Derek Boogaard skated with the team during Tuesday's practice. He has been out for a month with back trouble and is just now rejoining his teammates. - Pioneer Press

Defenseman Shea Weber made a somewhat surprising return to the lineup Tuesday against Calgary. Weber, who had missed the past 11 games with a leg injury, had been expected to return Thursday against Anaheim. But after a good practice session Monday, the decision was made to bring him back against the Flames. - Tennessean

John Madden said it is very unlikely he will be in the lineup Wednesday because of the risk involved with the cut on his right ankle. "It's just in a bad spot," Madden said Tuesday after missing a second straight day of practice. "There would definitely be contact with my ankle. Where the cut is, it keeps rubbing. Who knows what could happen?" If the cut is reopened and with sweat inside his skate boot, Madden's ankle could become infected and he would be lost for a much longer period of time. That's a risk the Devils would rather not take. "I'm extremely confident I'll be back for Friday's game for sure," Madden said. - Star Ledger

Cam Janssen practiced with the team Tuesday for the first time since his Oct. 4 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Janssen said he was cleared to play by Dr. James Andrews on Monday and "if they need me, I'm ready," he said. But Sutter and Lamoriello said Janssen might need to play some games in Lowell of the AHL. - Bergen Record

New Jersey put forward Erik Rasmussen on waivers today. - TSN

Jaromir Jagr will continue to play with the foot injuries that have limited him for 2 1/2weeks but have yet to knock him out of a game. Jagr feared that he had broken his right foot when hit by a shot during the Rangers' game at Toronto Dec.29. Last week an X-ray revealed that there was no break, just a severe bone bruise. "But it didn't really matter - I was going to play anyway," he said. "I have to play. There was nobody else - Marty (Straka) was out, Shanny was out and Sean was out." - New York Daily News

Joffrey Lupul, who suffered a spinal bruise and a concussion when he collided with teammate Derian Hatcher on Jan. 5, said he hoped to begin light workouts next week. "I feel pretty good," he said Tuesday. "But it's tough to gauge how good I really feel without getting on a bike or lifting some weights. Hopefully, if all goes well, maybe next week I can begin doing that." - Philadelphia Inquirer

John Stevens said Antero Niittymaki will start in net Wednesday against the Panthers with Marty Biron getting the call Saturday at the New York Islanders. Niittymaki made 38 saves, including a penalty shot against Radek Dvorek, in a 1-0 Flyers win at Florida on Dec. 30. - Philadelphia Daily News

Taylor Pyatt was hit in the face by the puck in Sunday's 4-3 win over St. Louis. Pyatt left the game late in the first period and did not return. "It took longer than we expected to stitch him up, and his teeth are sort of in the back of his mouth right now," coach Alain Vigneault said. "Until they take an X-ray, there's not much you can tell." Mason Raymond was reassigned to the AHL on Sunday. He had three goals and seven assists in 23 games with Vancouver this season. - TSN

[GLOVESAVE35]

Andy Murray pulls the goalie with 6:30 mins to go. The Blues were down 4-1.

[GLOVESAVE35]

and going to OT.

[Dark Knight]

Andy Murray pulls the goalie with 6:30 mins to go. The Blues were down 4-1.

Are you serious? He pulled some crap like that with LA every so often

[GLOVESAVE35]

Are you serious? He pulled some crap like that with LA every so often

Completely serious. He's known for doing this kind of thing (though not usually in such dramatic fashion) which is why I love watching him.

[Duckbill]

This may have had a bearing on that move. Manny Legace is injured, although he did leave after the first period so it wasn't as if it directly influenced the decision.

This begs the question, will LEgace still play in the ASG?

[GLOVESAVE35]

This may have had a bearing on that move. Manny Legace is injured, although he did leave after the first period so it wasn't as if it directly influenced the decision.

This begs the question, will LEgace still play in the ASG?

Andy Murray is quite well known for pulling the goalie on account of the score, not because of injury. He's done it successfully a few times, but as you can guess, most of the time it either doesn't work or it backfires. One dramatic example was when he was still with the Kings. LA was playing the Red Wings in the playoffs and were down by three goals or something ridiculous like that. He pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock. LA scored enough goals to tie it up and then eventually won the game in OT (LA went on to win the series too!). Don't remember what year it was though.

[lvsprt]

Andy Murray pulls the goalie with 6:30 mins to go. The Blues were down 4-1.

I guess that's one way for a team to focus on defense AND offense all at the same time. Call it a mini in-game scrimmage.

[DropThePuck]

3 - Guerin, B. (PPG, 15:09 in 1st), Sillinger, M. (04:17 in 2nd), Guerin, B. (19:00 in 3rd)
1 - Zajac, T. (07:11 in 3rd)


Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils scores a third period goal against Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders on January 16, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Islanders defetaed the Devils 3-1.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders hits Patrik Elias #26 of the New Jersey Devils on January 16, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Islanders defeated the Devils 3-1.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Pominville, J. (02:43 in 2nd)
2 - Dubinsky, B. (06:15 in 1st), Prucha, P. (09:42 in 2nd)


Brandon Dubinsky #17 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Buffalo Sabres on January 16, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)


Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes a save against Paul Gaustad #28 of the Buffalo Sabres on January 16, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

3 - Bouwmeester, J. (09:10 in 1st), Olesz, R. (13:01 in 2nd), Weiss, S. (18:28 in 2nd)
5 - Timonen, K. (02:46 in 1st), Gagne, S. (PPG, 12:14 in 1st), Briere, D. (16:38 in 1st), Hartnell, S. (17:59 in 1st), Briere, D. (19:22 in 3rd)


Philadelphia Flyers' Braydon Coburn (5) checks Florida Panthers' Brett McLean (53) to the ice during the third period of their hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008 in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 5-3.
(AP Photo/Miles Kennedy)

[DropThePuck]

3 - Moss, D. (12:37 in 2nd), Huselius, K. (PPG, 01:14 in 3rd), Huselius, K. (00:00 in SO)
2 - Burns, B. (PPG, 18:06 in 2nd), Foster, K. (PPG, 04:35 in 3rd)


Minnesota Wild's Kurtis Foster, right, checks Calgary Flames' Alex Tanquay, left, during the first period in an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in St. Paul, Minn.
(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)


Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginta, left, puts the puck past Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, right, of Finland, with a shootout goal to give the Flames a 3-2 win in an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in St. Paul, Minn.
(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Stempniak, L. (18:41 in 2nd)
6 - Skille, J. (09:19 in 2nd), Bourque, R. (15:19 in 2nd), Kane, P. (PPG, 01:02 in 3rd), Byfuglien, D. (12:37 in 3rd), Kane, P. (14:38 in 3rd), Perreault, Y. (17:19 in 3rd)


St. Louis Blues' Andy McDonald falls as he tries to controls the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 6-1.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)




Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks lands head first into the net after diving over goalie Manny Legace #34 of the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on January 16, 2008 in Chicgao, Illinois.
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)


Goalie Manny Legace #34 of the St. Louis Blues is tended to by a member of the medical staff after he collided with Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on January 16, 2008 in Chicgao, Illinois.
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

[Duckbill]

Well my question is answered. Legace's injury is not serious and it looks as if he'll even make his next start.

[Dark Knight]