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[DropThePuck]

DK's off into the hinterlands for the next couple weeks, so I'll be covering his duties here.

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

Minnesota at Boston
Ottawa at Buffalo
Philadelphia at Washington
New Jersey at Carolina
Florida at Toronto
Atlanta at Pittsburgh
Columbus at Detroit
Colorado at Nashville
Chicago at Phoenix
San Jose at Calgary

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Despite losing power-play triggerman Teemu Selanne, the Ducks are six for 17 on the power play in their last four games. Their offense has been boosted by Bobby Ryan, who has three goals and 11 points in his last eight games. - LA Times

Bryan Little's x-rays showed some bruising, but no broken ribs. He'll be listed as day-to-day. Little be replaced by Colby Armstrong as right wing on the team's second line. Armstrong will skate with center Todd White and left wing Slava Kozlov. Little, White and Kozlov has been the team's most dangerous offensively, with a combined 103 points. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Aaron Ward (charley horse) will skate in Tuesday morning's workout at the Garden and could be available to face the Wild... Andrew Ference (fractured tibia) left the workout as a "precautionary" measure and is listed as a day-to-day proposition... Patrice Bergeron has been riding the stationary bike, which is a sign of encouragement for the concussed center... Left winger Marco Sturm soon will undergo left knee surgery - Boston Herald/Boston Globe

After winning 25 of their first 30 decisions, San Jose has won just four of the past eight... The Flames have won four straight at the 'Dome and have earned a point in six home dates in a row. The Flames are tops in their division and 3rd overall in the West. However, Calgary is yet to beat San Jose, Detroit or Chicago: three of the top four teams in the Conference. The Flames had a humbling loss to the Sharks in San Jose over six weeks ago. Since then, they are 14-4-3. - TSN

Cristobal Huet, who was in goal for the Hawks' 7-1 smothering of the Coyotes on Dec. 7 at the United Center, will start again tonight. - Chicago Sun Times

The Blackhawks won't have Patrick Kane (high ankle sprain) in the lineup for a second straight game tonight against Phoenix, and it's unlikely the all-star winger will be available Thursday at Colorado, but he did accompany the team on the three-game road trip. He could return for the team's game against Nashville on Saturday or the Sunday night rematch back in Chicago. - Daily Herald Times

Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote (arm) has been placed on the injured reserve list and right wing Ian Laperriere (back stiffness) is day-to-day. - TSN

Despite Chris Osgood's return to form in a 3-2 shoot-out victory Saturday over Minnesota, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he plans to start Ty Conklin in goal tonight against visiting Columbus. Babcock said Osgood likely would start again Thursday against visiting Dallas. But that does not mean the coach has decided to automatically alternate starts for his goalies... defensemen Derek Meech and Andreas Lilja will sit out tonight, and he will use the defensive pairing of Chris Chelios and Brett Lebda. - Detroit Free Press

Goalie Jonathan Quick is scheduled to make his seventh consecutive start. In his last five starts he stopped 128 of 132 shots (.970 save percentage). As a team, the Kings have allowed opponents the fewest shots in the NHL, 999. That's an average of 26.3 per game. - LA Times

Marian Gaborik had surgery on his left hip Monday to repair a torn labrum and damaged cartilage. He's expected to be out 10-14 weeks, but can begin rehab immediately. The next update will come in six weeks when Gaborik can begin skating. - Star Tribune

Steve Sullivan finally has a target date for his return to the Predators lineup. Barring any setbacks he hopes to end an almost two-year absence by playing Saturday against Chicago. He has been sidelined with a back injury since February 2007. - Tennessean

After being a healthy scratch for two games, Aaron Voros was back with Brandon Dubinsky and Nik Zherdev - and on the power play. Rookie Lauri Korpikoski took a seat after dressing for 23 consecutive games. Voros had eight goals in the season's first two months, but hasn't scored since Nov. 28. - Newsday

The Flyers walking wounded list has grown to nine players with the addition of goalie Antero Niittymaki, who sustained a groin injury against the Kings. Against LA, the Flyers were without forwards Simon Gagne (shoulder), Danny Briere (groin), Joffrey Lupul (abdominal pull), Arron Asham (knee), and Claude Giroux (mild concussion). - Philadephia Inquirer

Gary Roberts has missed 20 games with a left elbow injury, and coach Rick Tocchet said the Lightning left wing could be out another two to three weeks. - Tamp Tribune

Rookie defenceman Luke Schenn will return tonight after missing 12 games with a sprained knee while fourth-line winger Andre Deveaux, who missed three games with a bruised foot, will also be back in the lineup. Making room for Schenn is Jaime Sifers, who will sit. - TSN

Mats Sundin says unless things change drastically - meaning how he feels - he WILL make his Canucks debut on Wednesday night. - TSN

[DropThePuck]

1 - Zidlicky, M. (PPG, 07:29 in 2nd)
0


Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom (32), of Finland, comes out from the goal to make a save against Boston Bruins right wing Michael Ryder (73) as Wild center Krys Kolanos (39) watches the puck go wide during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Boston Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Spezza, J. (07:02 in 2nd), Spezza, J. (07:34 in 2nd)
4 - Ellis, M. (00:15 in 1st), Stafford, D. (16:01 in 1st), Roy, D. (05:29 in 2nd), Vanek, T. (PPG, 19:33 in 3rd)




Buffalo Sabres' Jason Peters (76) looks at his hand after he was bit through the glove by Ottawa Senators' Jarkko Ruutu, right, of Finland, during a fight in the first period of an NHL hockey game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/David Duprey)

"Nothing happened there," Ruutu said. "His fingers were by my mouth but I didn't bite him."

With a bandage wrapped around his right thumb following the game, Peters said Ruutu broke his skin while biting him through the glove. Peters started the skirmish by rubbing his glove into Ruutu's face behind the play. Replays then showed Ruutu using his teeth to tear Peters' glove off of his hand.

Peters immediately began shaking his hand and doubled over in pain clutching his thumb before heading to the Buffalo bench where he was attended to by team trainers.

Peters was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for sparking the altercation, while Ruutu was not penalized.

NHL officials did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages left by The Associated Press.

<NHL.com recap>


Andrew Peters #76 of the Buffalo Sabres reacts after allegedly being bitten by a Ottawa Senator player at HSBC Arena January 6, 2009 in Buffalo, New York.
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Coburn, B. (PPG, 00:23 in 3rd)
2 - Backstrom, N. (PPG, 02:10 in 1st), Kozlov, V. (00:00 in SO)


Washington Capitals' Viktor Kozlov (25), of Russia, scores on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Martin Biron (43) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2008, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Martin, P. (PPG, 12:12 in 3rd), Elias, P. (19:38 in 3rd)
3 - Whitney, R. (01:03 in 1st), Samsonov, S. (PPG, 15:15 in 2nd), Ruutu, T. (09:58 in 3rd)


Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward falls to the ice as New Jersey Devils' Patrik Elias (26) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Kovalchuk, I. (PPG, 14:20 in 3rd)
3 - Sykora, P. (PPG, 17:10 in 1st), Sykora, P. (12:43 in 2nd), Crosby, S. (PPG, 15:41 in 2nd)


Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke, center, is shoved into Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen, right, of Finland, by Thrashers defenseman Mathieu Schneider during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

[DropThePuck]

0
3 - Datsyuk, P. (PPG, 03:45 in 3rd), Hossa, M. (PPG, 05:59 in 3rd), Zetterberg, H. (19:30 in 3rd)


Detroit Red Wings goalie Ty Conklin stops a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets' Jakub Voracek (93), of the Czech Republic, as defensemen Nicklas Listrom (5) of Sweden, and Brian Rafalski (28) help on defense during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Wolski, W. (14:25 in 1st), Wolski, W. (15:47 in 2nd)
1 - Jones, R. (07:30 in 1st)


Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, dives in vain as Colorado Avalanche left wing Wojtek Wolski (8), of Poland, puts the puck in the net for his second goal, in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

[DropThePuck]

6 - Burish, A. (11:46 in 1st), Versteeg, K. (14:22 in 1st), Fraser, C. (15:00 in 1st), Eager, B. (16:22 in 1st), Toews, J. (18:46 in 2nd), Toews, J. (SHG, 14:48 in 3rd)
0


Chicago Blackhawks' Cristobal Huet, left, of France, kneels on the ice after being hit by Phoenix Coyotes' Todd Fedoruk (17), who received a five minute major penalty for charging, and Martin Hanzal (11), of the Czech Republic, in the third period of an NHL hockey game on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz.
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

[DropThePuck]

2 - Clowe, R. (PPG, 05:30 in 2nd), Grier, M. (SHG, 09:22 in 2nd)
5 - Glencross, C. (12:29 in 1st), Langkow, D. (16:39 in 1st), Giordano, M. (PPG, 18:33 in 1st), Langkow, D. (01:26 in 2nd), Moss, D. (10:06 in 3rd)


San Jose Sharks' goalie Evgeni Nabokov, right, of Kazakhstan, watches the puck after Calgary Flames' Michael Cammalleri crashed into him during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary, Alberta on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

[DropThePuck]

4 - Weiss, S. (PPG, 10:16 in 1st), Peltonen, V. (17:38 in 1st), Frolik, M. (14:18 in 2nd), Campbell, G. (10:20 in 3rd)
2 - Ponikarovsky, A. (PPG, 04:43 in 3rd), Blake, J. (SHG, 12:09 in 3rd)


Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala, right, lays on the ice as Florida Panthers left winger Cory Stillman (61) and center Stephen Weiss (9) try to get a shot off during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Florida Panthers center Shawn Matthias takes to the air as he passes in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)


Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)