7 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

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

Detroit at Chicago
Pittsburgh at Boston
Buffalo at Toronto
TBL at Washington
Vancouver at Nashville

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Martin St. Pierre's demotion indicates that winger Petteri Nokelainen (upper-body injury) is ready to return. Nokelainen will likely skate on the fourth line with Vladimir Sobotka and Shawn Thornton tonight against Pittsburgh. - Boston Globe

Centre Jochen Hecht was dropped to the fourth line at practice yesterday. He skated in the middle with three wingers rotating around him, Andrew Peters, Maxim Afinogenov and Daniel Paille. Matt Ellis, recently promoted from Portland, took Hecht's spot between wingers Jason Pominville and Clarke MacArthur. - Buffalo News

The Blackhawks practised at Wrigley Field yesterday in preparation for today's Winter Classic. Following practice, head coach Joel Quenneville said Patrick Kane (ankle) is expected to play. - TSN

Winger Jason Chimera (groin) rejoined the team yesterday but said he's "probably 50-50" to play Friday in Denver against the Avalanche. - Columbus Dispatch

The Red Wings practised at Wrigley Field yesterday and defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom (ankle) skated with the team. He is expected to play in the Winter Classic today. - TSN

Head coach Peter DeBoer tried to shake things up by benching veteran Richard Zednik yesterday. Rookie Shawn Matthias, who was called up from the minors on Tuesday, took Zednik's spot in the lineup. - Miami Herald

Forward Marian Gaborik (lower body) missed his third straight game last night but forward Owen Nolan (leg) and defenceman Kim Johnsson (personal) returned to the lineup against San Jose. Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron (lower body injury) was placed on injured reserve. - Star Tribune

Alex Tanguay is out a minimum of six weeks with a left "shoulder problem." He wouldn't specify whether it was a separation, dislocation or strain, but he was cradling his forearm as he left practice facility. Sergei Kostitsyn took a therapy day, while Carey Price is day-to-day with a lower body injury (not related to the left knee problem he suffered in December). Coach Guy Carbonneau said Price "tweaked something" during the pre-game warmup Tuesday in Tampa, but didn't tell the coaches and played anyway, winning the shootout. He will miss Friday's game in New Jersey, but Carbonneau hopes Price will be ready to return Sunday against Florida. Meanwhile, the club has called up forwards Max Pacioretty and Kyle Chipchura, defenceman Yannick Weber and netminder Marc Denis. - TSN

Centre Steve Sullivan, who has not played in almost two years due to a back injury and subsequent surgery, practiced with the team yesterday. He wore a gold jersey for the first time, meaning he was cleared for contact. - Tennessean

Trent Hunter didn't play yesterday and said he's "sore everywhere" after his scary crash into an opened penalty-box doorway on Monday. He hopes to skate with the team today. Centre Mike Sillinger went back on the injured list with another hip injury. - New York Daily News

Wingers Arron Asham and Scottie Upshall are listed as day-to-day with knee injuries. Defenceman Randy Jones has a sore hip flexor but is expected to play tomorrow in Anaheim. - Philadephia Inquirer

Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov missed practice Tuesday because of tightness in his backand did not play last night. Forwards Daniel Carcillo and Daniel Winnik and defenseman Keith Yandle were healthy scratches. - Arizona Republic

Winger Tyler Kennedy (sprained knee) and defenseman Kris Letang (undisclosed) participated in full practice drills yesterday but neither player is expected to dress tonight against Boston. - Tribune-Review

Newly acquired goaltender Jason Labarbera will start one of the two games on the current road trip. - TSN

Tomas Fleischmann (pneumonia), Alexander Semin (back), Sergei Fedorov (ankle), Tom Poti (groin) and John Erskine (concussion) are out for tonight's game against Tampa Bay. - St. Petersburg Times

[DropThePuck]

6 - Samuelsson, M. (PPG, 09:50 in 1st), Hudler, J. (01:14 in 2nd), Hudler, J. (12:43 in 2nd), Datsyuk, P. (17:17 in 2nd), Rafalski, B. (PPG, 03:07 in 3rd), Lebda, B. (03:24 in 3rd)
4 - Versteeg, K. (PPG, 03:24 in 1st), Havlat, M. (PPG, 12:37 in 1st), Eager, B. (19:18 in 1st), Keith, D. (PPG, 19:50 in 3rd)


The Detroit Red Wings walk out towards the ice against the Chicago Blackhawks during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)


Ben Eager #55 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates after he scored a goal in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)


Andrew Ladd #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks attempts a shot against Ty Conklin #29 of the Detroit Red Wings during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)


The Chicago Blackhawks congratulate the Detroit Red Wings after the Red WIngs won 6-4 during the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Jeffrey, D. (02:59 in 1st), Fedotenko, R. (06:20 in 3rd)
4 - Krejci, D. (04:05 in 1st), Axelsson, P. (PPG, 09:24 in 1st), Lucic, M. (12:25 in 2nd), Savard, M. (19:57 in 3rd)


Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Hunwick (48) battles Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby for a loose puck during the first period of a hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)


Boston Bruins' Stephane Yelle (18) and teammate Chuck Kobasew, right rear, watch as teammate Milan Lucic's (not shown) shot scores on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Dany Sabourin, foreground right, during the second period of a hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)


Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal, foreground, shoots in front of Boston Bruins' Martin St. Pierre during the first period of a hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)


Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke (24) is escorted to the penalty box after being called for goaltender interference during the third period of their 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in a hockey game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

[DropThePuck]

4 - Lecavalier, V. (00:58 in 2nd), Malone, R. (02:37 in 2nd), Lecavalier, V. (19:44 in 2nd), Recchi, M. (12:22 in 3rd)
7 - Collins, S. (03:58 in 1st), Steckel, D. (08:02 in 1st), Green, M. (18:29 in 1st), Bradley, M. (02:48 in 2nd), Gordon, B. (08:07 in 3rd), Clark, C. (12:47 in 3rd), Ovechkin, A. (18:14 in 3rd)


Washington Capitals' Sean Collins (62) follows through on a shot for a goal as Tampa Bay Lightning's Ryan Malone (12) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)


Tampa Bay Lightning's Steven Stamkos (91) reaches for the puck as Washington Capitals goalie Brent Johnson (1) and teammate Karl Alzner (27) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)


Tampa Bay Lightning's Vincent Lecavalier (4) scores a goal against Washington Capitals goalie Brent Johnson (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)


Tampa Bay Lightning's Jamie Heward is taken off the ice on a stretcher after being checked into the boards by Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Ohlund, M. (07:19 in 1st), Jaffray, J. (15:54 in 3rd)
1 - Peverley, R. (07:53 in 2nd)


Nashville Predators right wing Jordin Tootoo, right, fights with Vancouver Canucks left wing Alex Burrows (14) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler (23) trips over goalie Jason LaBarbera, left, as the puck gets past LaBarbera for a goal by Nashville Predators center Rich Peverley, not shown, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks left wing Darcy Hordichuk (24) lands a punch on Nashville Predators right wing Wade Belak, left, in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)


Vancouver Canucks goalie Jason LaBarbera (30) is congratulated by left wing Alex Burrows (14) after the Canucks beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 in an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. LaBarbera blocked 31 of 32 shots.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

[DropThePuck]

4 - Pominville, J. (PPG, 06:50 in 2nd), Roy, D. (09:11 in 2nd), Pominville, J. (11:29 in 2nd), Roy, D. (PPG, 05:58 in 3rd)
1 - Mitchell, J. (08:29 in 3rd)


Whoa! He can fly!


Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky, left, of Russia, jumps to screen Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Buffalo Sabres center Derek Roy (9) defends Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky (23), of Russia, as Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, left, struggles to get up during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph, left, makes a save on a shot by Buffalo Sabres right winger Maxim Afinogenov (61) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph skates to clear the puck behind Buffalo Sabres center Paul Gaustad (28) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

[DropThePuck]

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller (30) makes a save as defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, right, picks up a holding penalty while trying to defend Toronto Maple Leafs center Dominic Moore (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Pavel Kubina, of Czech Republic, checks Buffalo Sabres right winger Drew Staford (21) into goaltender Curtis Joseph during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)