8 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

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

NYI at Philadelphia
Calgary at Montreal
Vancouver at Nashville
LAK at Colorado

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Forward Brad Larsen will consider hip surgery to resolve the abdominal strain that has kept him out of the lineup all season. Larsen was acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers for Mathieu Schneider during training camp. - LA Times

Defenceman Aaron Ward, who has not played since November 29 with a leg injury, skated with the Bruins on Monday. He'll travel with the club and hopes to play later on in the week. - Boston Globe

Thomas Vanek became the first NHL player to reach the 20-goal plateau this season. The only other Sabre to match that feat was Danny Gare in 1975-76. - Elias Sports Bureau

Ben Guite and Darcy Tucker skated with Avalanche on Monday before practice but according to coach Tony Granato, both are progressing but are still out of the lineup indefinitely. - Rocky Mountain News

Adam Foote skated Sunday, but the Avalanche aren't sure when he will be ready to play again. He has missed eight games because of back and knee injuries since getting hit from behind by Los Angeles' John Zeiler on Nov. 22. - Rocky Mountain News

Forward Steve Ott skated at practice on Monday. He has been out of the lineup since November 22 with a broken hand. He could return in a few weeks. - Star Telegram

After playing two games in the AHL Chris Chelios is back with the Wings. It's unclear when he'll get back on the ice. Nicklas Lidstrom skated with Brad Stuart at practice on Monday, instead of Brian Rafalski.- Detroit News

Five injured Panthers all worked out with the team on Monday. Nathan Horton (lacerated ankle), David Booth (shoulder), Cory Murphy (shoulder), Cory Stillman (postconcussion symptoms) and Richard Zednik (elbow) are all getting closer to returning to the lineup, with Stillman and Zednik maybe playing on Thursday.- Miami Herald

Jaroslav Halak is expected to be in goal on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. - TSN

Goaltender Martin Gerber will start on Wednesday in Chicago. He has not played since a loss to Carolina on November 7th. Dean McAmmond (chest/throat infection) will not make the trip to Chicago. - TSN

Defenceman Randy Jones, who has yet to play this season after undergoing hip surgery, appears ready to return next Tuesday against the Avalanche. Defenceman Matt Carle won't play tonight because of back spasms. It will mark the fourth straight game that Carle has missed. - Philadelphia Inquirer

Goaltender Mikael Tellqvist is hurt with a lower body injury. He can play in an absolute emergency but the team doesn't want to risk his health. - Phoenix Coyotes

Chris Gratton and Radim Vrbata cleared waivers. Vrbata is heading back to the Czech Republic. Gratton's future is still being determined between him and the team. He is reportedly not prepared to retire. - TSN

More than six months after rupturing the ACL in his right knee, Jeff Halpern is getting close to a return. Coach Rick Tocchet said there is "50-50" chance that the forward could return before the end of the Lightning's four-game road trip which ends on Saturday. Winger Ryan Malone sat out on Monday with a upper-body injury. It was the second consecutive game that Malone has missed. He hopes to return soon. - Tampa Tribune

[sugarmama]

Avs rookie Stewart made a sweet breakaway trickster goal laying on the line, then flipping it in (Avs 6th) in his 3rd NHL game. In his 1st he was so star struck by Modano he fell twice in his 1st shift.

[DropThePuck]

3 - Hilbert, A. (PPG, 09:23 in 1st), Weight, D. (10:24 in 1st), Comeau, B. (02:17 in 3rd)
4 - Asham, A. (11:55 in 1st), Powe, D. (08:09 in 2nd), Carter, J. (16:02 in 2nd), Gagne, S. (PPG, 11:08 in 3rd)


Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter, center, looks at is shot on goal sitting in front of New York Islanders goalie Yann Danis in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, in Philadelphia. Trailing Carter is Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)


Philadelphia Flyers goalie Martin Biron looks back at the puck netted by New York Islanders center Doug Weight, right, for their second goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, in Philadelphia. Flyers center Jeff Carter, left, looks on.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)


Philadelphia Flyers center Jeff Carter, left, fires the puck behind New York Islanders goalie Yann Danis, right, and into the net for the go-ahead goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)


New York Islanders' Mitch Fritz, with a bloody eye, returns to his bench after fighting with Philadelphia Flyers' Riley Cote in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, in Philadelphia. Both received five-minute penalties for fighting.
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Boyd, D. (06:32 in 2nd)
4 - Lang, R. (03:41 in 1st), D'Agostini, M. (04:17 in 2nd), Lang, R. (15:18 in 2nd), Markov, A. (11:06 in 3rd)


Calgary Flames' David Moss tries for the rebound off Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak, of the Czech Republic, during first period NHL hockey action Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Montreal Canadiens' Francis Bouillonm center, and Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla lose sight of the puck as they battle for position in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jarislav Halak, of the Czech Republic, during first period NHL hockey action Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Montreal Canadiens' Alex Kovalev, left, from Russia is checked into the boards by Calgary Flames' Todd Bertuzzi during first period NHL hockey action Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)


Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla tries to provoke Montreal Canadiens' Patrice Brisebois during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 in Montreal.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Paul Chiasson)

[DropThePuck]

3 - Demitra, P. (08:35 in 1st), Edler, A. (PPG, 00:24 in 3rd), Burrows, A. (19:16 in 3rd)
1 - Bonk, R. (PPG, 11:03 in 1st)


Vancouver Canucks left wing Taylor Pyatt, back, shows he's not holding Nashville Predators right wing Martin Erat (10) of the Czech Republic as Erat gets a shot away in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks left wing Alex Burrows (14) hits Nashville Predators right wing J. P. Dumont in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. The hit led to a fight involving several players from both teams. At left is Predators right wing Martin Erat (10) of the Czech Republic.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators players fight after a hit by Canucks left wing Alex Burrows in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler (17) checks Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber into the boards in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Moller, O. (PPG, 12:02 in 2nd)
6 - Svatos, M. (03:28 in 1st), Hejduk, M. (03:53 in 1st), McLeod, C. (11:44 in 1st), Smyth, R. (PPG, 02:11 in 2nd), McLeod, C. (04:48 in 2nd), Stewart, C. (SHG, 11:18 in 2nd)


Los Angeles Kings center Oscar Moller, left, of Sweden, celebrates scoring a goal as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jordan Leopold, center, and goalie Peter Budaj, of Slovakia, react in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)


Colorado Avalanche rookie right winger Chris Stewart, left, shoots the puck past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera for a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Denver on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)


Colorado Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles, left, joins left winger Wojtek Wolski, second from left, of Poland, right winger Marek Svatos, (40), of Slovakia, and center Tyler Arnason in celebrating a goal by Svatos as Los Angeles Kings right winger Alexander Frolov, right, of Russia, skates away in the first period in an NHL hockey game in Denver on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)


Los Angeles Kings center Derek Armstrong is guided off the ice after getting hit in the face by a Colorado Avalanche player in the first period in an NHL hockey game in Denver on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

[Duckbill]

I watched the first two periods of the Kings and Avs, it was brutal but entertaining. The highlight of the game had to be Stewart's shorthanded goal, which at first looked like a handpass as one of the Avs was trying to clear the puck while the Kings had a power play. Unfortunately for LA one of the Kings tried to play the puck and the puck caught a tiny bit of his stick, bounced past him and went right to Stewart.

Stewart then raced down the ice and actually drew a penalty (Kopitar hooked him to try and stop the shot) but Stewart got his own rebound and put it in the net to make it a 6-0 Colorado lead. HOwever, the shorthanded goal cancelled the penalty, and the Kings managed to score with their remaining thirty seconds or so of power play time. Colorado looked really good though, they were forechecking nicely, crashing the net, and working the puck down low quite well. LaBarbera was stuck out there for the whole time, no Ersberg.

There were a few plays where I saw Odie out there and I really felt bad for the guy.

[QuacksMeUp]

It got a little nuts between the Nucks and the Preds last night! Anyone see the whole game? I saw Arnott whaling on a Nuck while he was down!! Repeatedly!! I thought there was some code about that? Anyway, Nashville is claiming foul on about three head shots from the Canucks. I thought Bertuzzi went to Calgary.