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[Dark Knight]

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

Detroit at Chicago
STL at Vancouver

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

The team is 2-0 in home games starting at 1pm (local) this season. Since 2002, the Ducks are 13-1-4 in day games at home. - Orange County Register

Head coach John Anderson told reporters on Saturday that goaltender Kari Lehtonen (back surgery) has started skating. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Chris Thorburn got early shifts with the top line (Ilya Kovlachuk and Nik Antropov) on Saturday. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Dennis Wideman has missed two games with an unknown injury. He will skate in Ottawa on Sunday in advance of the Monday game against the Senators. - Boston Herald

Winger Thomas Vanek missed Saturday's game against Pittsburgh because of soreness in his stomach/abdominal region. - The Canadian Press

The team has had late-game issues this season, they have been outscored 52-25 in the third period. - Herald-Sun

Head coach Joel Quenneville said Ben Eager (upper-body injury) is doubtful for the game against Detroit on Sunday. Cristobal Huet is expected to start in goal. - Chicago Sun Times

The Detroit Red Wings injury woes continue as leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg left in the first period of Thursday night's game against the Lightning after being drilled by a clean open ice hit by Mattias Ohlund. He is expected to miss at least two weeks. - Detroit Free Press

Dmitry Kulikov (knee) is having further tests to determine the extent of his injury. Head coach Pete DeBoer said Saturday that while it was a "significant" injury, Kulikov probably wouldn't need to have surgery. - Sun Sentinel

Winger Brian Gionta (broken left foot) skated with teammates for the first time on Saturday. He told reporters he still feels pain and will not be rushed back by the club. - RDS

Jason Arnott was not in the line-up against the Flames on Saturday. He has aggravated a pre-existing upper-body injury according to the team's PR department. - TSN

Paul Martin (fractured left forearm) has stopped skating. "Paul is going to be a little while longer," said general manager Lou Lamoriello. "We'll have more to say on that next week when we know more." - Bergen Record

The Islanders announced that goalie Rick DiPietro will return to practice with the team next week. DiPietro has been rehabbing a surgically repaired knee since August. - Newsday

Brian Boyle left Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury, he is day-to-day. The Rangers decided to stay in Philadelphia because of the weather on Sunday before flying out for Monday's game versus Carolina. - Newsday

The Senators will be without forward Nick Foligno for a couple of weeks as he will undergo a knee scope.
Both goaltender Pascal Leclaire and forward Chris Neil were on the ice as Senators practice Friday. Both are still targeting December 23rd to make their return to the Sens lineup. - TSN

Two of Vancouver's last three losses have come against teams who were then in last place in their respective conference (Carolina, Anaheim). St. Louis is currently in last place in the Western Conference. The Canucks are 1-6 against the Central division. They lost 6-1 in St. Louis back on November 10. The Blues are 8-3-3 on the road and last in the league at home (6-11-2).
Henrik Sedin is on a nine-game point streak (1 goal, 15 assist). Raymond has scored in four of his last five games. He has combined with Kesler have combined for 12 points over that stretch.
Mathieu Schneider was the only Canuck who did not take the morning skate, head coach Alain Vigneault said he was dealing with a personal matter. - TSN

Michael Grabner was reassigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL on Saturday. - Media Release

In his first full speed practice since since suffering a groin muscle strain in Tampa on Dec. 7, goalie Semyon Varlamov was forced to back off when he felt a twinge. As a result the rookie goalie did not return against Edmonton on Saturday but is eyeing Wednesday to be an option. - Washington Post

[DropThePuck]

0
3 - Keith, D. (PPG, 07:58 in 1st), Campbell, B. (16:05 in 2nd), Byfuglien, D. (19:27 in 2nd)


Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet, from France, tries to make save as Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom stands in front of the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


Chicago Blackhawks' Troy Brouwer checks Detroit Red Wings' Doug Janik, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


Detroit Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader, bottom, and Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews rub a glove on the other's face during the third period of Chicago's 3-0 win in an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


Detroit Red Wings' Patrick Eaves stumbles as he tries to put the puck past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet, of France, in the third period of Chicago's 3-0 win in an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)

[DropThePuck]

3 - Backes, D. (PPG, 02:59 in 1st), Backes, D. (11:48 in 2nd), Tkachuk, K. (13:15 in 2nd)
1 - O'Brien, S. (17:15 in 1st)


Vancouver Canucks' Kyle Wellwood, left, St. Louis Blues' Darryl Sydor, right, and referee Steve Kozari collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


Vancouver Canucks' Steve Bernier, center, nearly falls into the St. Louis Blues bench after being checked by St. Louis Blues' Paul Kariya, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


Vancouver Canucks' Shane O'Brien, right, scores on St. Louis Blues' Ty Conklin during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)


St. Louis Blues' David Perron, left, jumps to avoid the puck in front of Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009.
(AP)