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[Dark Knight]

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

Vancouver at Minnesota
Calgary at STL
Colorado at Dallas
Edmonton at LAK

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Marco Sturm's persistent neck pain again kept him out of the lineup Thursday night. "He didn't skate," coach Claude Julien said following the morning workout at Tampa Bay. "And to be honest, we kept him off the ice." - Boston Globe

Defenceman Adrian Aucoin suffered a lower body injury in the Flames' last game against Dallas. He was listed as day to day, didn't practice Wednesday but will play tonight. Forward Dustin Boyd traveled with the team but will not play tonight. He has been out with an upper body injury. - TSN

Michael Leighton started Thursday because Cam Ward was scratched with a groin injury. The Hurricanes activated Justin Williams before Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and placed defenceman Dennis Seidenberg on injured reserve with a leg injury. - Herald-Sun

Injured goalie Nikolai Khabibulin skated by himself Thursday and is expected to take part in the full-team workout Friday. Defenceman James Wisniewski, who's recovering from major knee surgery, will get more full-time contact, but coach Joel Quenneville won't commit to Wisniewski's target date of next Friday at Colorado for returning to the lineup. - Chicago Sun Times

With Brian Willsie almost certainly out for Friday night's game against Dallas, and perhaps longer, because of the knee injury he suffered on Thursday, the Avalanche seems to have two options: call up a forward from Lake Erie and get him to Dallas, or suit up seven defencemen - including Kyle Cumiskey, the only healthy scratch against Nashville. - Denver Post

The Wings didn't have Tomas Holmstrom (back) in the lineup Thursday but he expects to play Saturday against Chicago. "It's probably good for an extra couple of days of rest," said Holmstrom, who added he felt the best he has in some time Thursday. - Detroit News

Coach Peter DeBoer said Cory Stillman (concussion) has had some good workouts lately and Nathan Horton (ankle cut) is healing, as are David Booth (shoulder) and Richard Zednik (elbow). "I think all those guys are within a week," DeBoer said. "They're all pretty close. It just has to do with setbacks. We'll meet with the trainers and if we think they could play, they'll go on the (upcoming road) trip." - Miami Herald

Erik Ersberg will start in goal for the Kings against Edmonton. Defenceman Denis Gauthier (bruised foot) is possible. Centre Brad Richardson (cut foot) didn't practice Thursday and his status is uncertain. - LA Times

Forward Brian Rolston is ready to go after missing 18 games with a high ankle sprain. "Absolutely. It's been a long while," Rolston said. "It's such a slow process with an ankle. I'm excited to be back and to get back into the routine." Bobby Holik is with the team but was scratched from the lineup. He will accompany the Devils to Montreal for the game Saturday night. - Star Ledger

Defenceman Wade Redden was injured in the second period of Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens and did not return to the game. Redden suffered a lower body injury less than four minutes into the middle session. He posted a minus-2 rating in 8 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time before departing. - TSN

Dean McAmmond (chest/throat infection) won't play Saturday. Alex Picard (wrist) skated Friday and is a game time decision. Alex Auld will start in goal on Saturday. - TSN

Simon Gagne left Thursday's night 3-2 OT loss to the Devils in the second period suffering from what team officials called dehydration. GM Paul Holmgren said Gagne wasn't hit and it wasn't concussion-related, even though Gagne's symptoms mimic a concussion with the notable exception of an upset stomach. Defenceman Randy Jones (hip) hopes to return to the lineup around Dec. 16. Centre Danny Briere, who will miss at least four weeks with a severe groin strain, said it was ultimately his decision to return to the lineup Tuesday for a game in which he was re-injured. - Philadelphia Inquirer

Philippe Boucher (undisclosed injury) was placed on injured reserve Thursday. Boucher, who has missed the last two games, is listed as week-to-week. - TSN

Blues forward T.J. Oshie is expected to play tonight against Calgary, after missing 13 games with a high-ankle sprain. Oshie practiced Thursday on a line with Patrik Berglund and David Perron. With Oshie's expected return, the Blues assigned forward Steve Regier to Peoria on Thursday. - St Louis Post Dispatch

Unimpressed with the Leafs' performance against Phoenix on Thursday night, head coach Ron Wilson will have the team go through an 8am local practice before flying home to Toronto. - TSN

[DropThePuck]

2 - Bieksa, K. (PPG, 13:55 in 1st), Jaffray, J. (03:52 in 2nd)
1 - Koivu, M. (00:27 in 2nd)


Vancouver Canucks' Jason Jaffray, left, and Minnesota Wild's Brent Burns go at it in the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn. Both served penalties for fighting. Jaffray scored the go-ahead goal in the second period to lead the Canucks to a 2-1 win over the Wild.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)


Minnesota Wild's Owen Nolan is surrounded by Vancouver Canucks' Taylor Pyatt (9), Sami Solo (6), goalie Cory Schneider (35), Daniel Sedin (22), and Alex Burrows (14) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)


Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, right, throws a punch at Minnesota Wild's James Sheppard during a fight in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn. Both received fighting penalties.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)


Vancouver Canucks' Steve Bernier, left, gets upended in a collision near the net by Minnesota Wild's Cal Clutterbuck as goalie Niklas Backstrom, right, of Finland defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

[DropThePuck]

4 - Bourque, R. (07:12 in 2nd), Iginla, J. (PPG, 01:43 in 3rd), Moss, D. (PPG, 05:19 in 3rd), Cammalleri, M. (02:21 in OT)
3 - Backes, D. (13:50 in 1st), Berglund, P. (PPG, 16:11 in 1st), Boyes, B. (PPG, 15:50 in 2nd)


St. Louis Blues' goalie Chris Mason (50) blocks as shot by Calgary Flames' Matthew Lombardi (18) as the Blues' Eric Brewer (4) defends in the first period in an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)


St. Louis Blues' Jay McClement (18) and Barret Jackman (5) battle for the puck with Calgary Flames' Michael Cammalleri (13) in the first period in an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)


Calgary Flames' goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, of Finland, dives for the puck in the second period against the St. Louis Blues' in an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)


Calgary Flames' Adam Pardy (55) collides with St. Louis Blues' T.J. Oshie, right, in the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Svatos, M. (19:04 in 3rd)
2 - Petersen, T. (07:57 in 2nd), Modano, M. (00:00 in SO)


Dallas Stars right wing Landon Wilson, left, looks on as defenseman Andrew Hutchinson (27) controls the puck against Colorado Avalanche's Chris Stewart, right, in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)


Colorado Avalanche center Cody McCormick (11) prepares to pass the puck as Dallas Stars left wing Fabian Brunnstrom (96) of Sweden reaches in during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)


Dallas Stars defenseman Andrew Hutchinson (27) attempts a shot as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jordan Leopold, from second left, and defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist of Sweden help goalie Peter Budaj of Slovakia against the threat in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)


Dallas Stars center Toby Petersen (17) scores beneath the legs of Colorado Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj, left, of Slovakia, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

[DropThePuck]

5 - Moreau, E. (08:09 in 1st), Pouliot, M. (14:31 in 1st), Cogliano, A. (18:44 in 1st), Penner, D. (08:23 in 3rd), Hemsky, A. (00:00 in SO)
4 - Handzus, M. (01:53 in 2nd), Kopitar, A. (03:55 in 2nd), Stoll, J. (PPG, 07:02 in 2nd), Frolov, A. (PPG, 10:24 in 2nd)


Los Angeles Kings defenseman Denis Gauthier, right, checks Edmonton Oilers left wing Dustin Penner during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Los Angeles Kings goalie Erik Ersberg, of Sweden, right, blocks a shot by Edmonton Oilers center Rob Schremp during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Edmonton Oilers goalie Mathieu Garon, bottom, blocks shot from Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Calder (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, left, knocks Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray off his feet during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)