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[Dark Knight]

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

SJS at Chicago
Nashville at Vancouver

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips

Centre Ryan Carter isn't skating as he suffered a setback in his recovery from a broken right foot last month but coach Randy Carlyle said he expects that Carter will be back on the ice next week after the Ducks return from a game in San Jose on Saturday. Carter has missed the last 18 games after getting hit by a shot during a practice last month in Columbus. - Orange County Register

Dennis Wideman returned to the lineup on Monday. With Derek Morris (undisclosed) out for a second straight game, Wideman was paired with Zdeno Chara. Wideman played 28:55, recording two shots and three blocked shots. Andy Wozniewski was the healthy scratch. Rookie Adam McQuaid, who made his NHL debut Saturday, dressed for the second straight game. - Boston Globe

It was a hard work practice following a recovery day on Monday, with one on one battles down low to start, passing drills, one on ones down the wing, and a conditioning skate to end it. - TSN

The Hurricanes on Sunday reassigned defenseman Bryan Rodney to the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Rodney had three assists in three games. - Raleigh News-Observer

Left wing Bryan Bickell was assigned to Rockford on Monday but could be recalled Tuesday if Ben Eager can't play. - Chicago Tribune

Defenceman Anton Stralman was said to be feeling better but missed his second straight game because of the flu. Marc Methot took his spot in the lineup. Centre Mike Blunden, a healthy scratch the previous eight games, played on the fourth line Monday night. - Columbus Dispatch

Jere Lehtinen missed the game with a sore groin. He is listed as day to day. - Dallas Morning News

The Wings on Monday assigned Kris Newbury to Grand Rapids and recalled forward Mattias Ritola. - Detroit Free Press

Centre Kamil Kreps (ribs, shoulder) did not play again Monday and is day-to-day.- Sun Sentinel

Petr Sykora took part in the morning skate Monday, putting him one step closer to rejoining the lineup as he continues his recovery from a concussion. Owen Nolan came back Monday after missing four games because of a leg injury, and Eric Belanger (flu) also played. Guillaume Latendresse is still ill. With Nolan's return, winger Robbie Earl and winger Jon DiSalvatore were reassigned to Houston. - Pioneer Press

On the winning goal on Monday, Marc-Andre Bergeron hurt himself when his momentum carried him into the post after he scored. "I think he will be all right. He ran into the goal post after scoring the goal. He wasn't cut. He'll be evaluated (Tuesday)," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said. - CP

Rick DiPietro got back on the ice yesterday for the first time since leaving a rehab start 10 days earlier because of leg tightness. He said he felt "great" after working out for 45 minutes before the Islanders' morning skate, but admitted that the discomfort that caused the concern was something that had bothered him for "a while." - Newsday

Fisher and Michalek did not skate, but both will play Wednesday. Cory Clouston didnn't announce his starting goalie. Chris Neil has missed 15 games with a left knee injury, but it ready to play on Wednesday. - TSN

Brian Boucher suffered a lacerated right ring finger, cut from Michael Frolik's close-range shot. He received "more than a few" stitches and has no timetable for when he will return. - Philadelphia Inquirer

Phoenix centre Martin Hanzal left the game after he was cut open during a fight with Jared Boll immediately following Vrbata's goal. Hanzal later was given an assist on the score to go with his five-minute major. - Arizona Republic

The Blues called up defenseman Ty Strachan from Peoria on an emergency basis Monday, but he was not in the lineup against the Oilers. Strachan, 25, has played in 18 games this season with Peoria, collecting seven points, including a goal and six assists. He is also among the Rivermen team leaders with a plus-2 rating. - St. Louis Post Dispatch

Matt Walker and Zenon Konopka sat out the final game of the six-game road trip against the New York Islanders. Walker left after the first period of Friday's win at St. Louis with an undisclosed lower body injury he said isn't considered serious but will need a few days of rest. The coaching staff decided to sit Konopka for a 'therapy day.' - Tampa Tribune

Viktor Stalberg was not at practice on Tuesday. Coach Ron Wilson said that the forward has an 'upper-body' injury and will not travel with the team. Nobody will be called up to replace him. - TSN

Pavol Demitra was on the ice with the handful of Canucks that took part in the optional skate Tuesday. He was recently in Slovakia getting a specialized accupuncture treatment on his shoulder. He's had no contact yet. The team won't put a time frame on it but he suggested he is 3-4 weeks away. Alain Vigneault says there is a "slight" chance Alex Edler will play Tuesday. He's been out two weeks with an injured shoulder. Mathieu Schnieder is still dealing with a "personal situation" and has not yet re-joined the team. - TSN

Goalie Semyon Varlamov, who hasn't played since Dec. 7 because of a groin injury, practiced on his own Monday. He did not face any shots, mostly doing side-to-side skating drills. He's not expected to return until Dec. 30 against San Jose, at the earliest, though that depends on how the upcoming week of practice goes. - Washington Post

[DropThePuck]

3 - Heatley, D. (03:18 in 1st), Thornton, J. (SHG, 05:10 in 2nd), Demers, J. (04:30 in 3rd)
2 - Kane, P. (04:10 in 3rd), Hossa, M. (18:09 in 3rd)


San Jose Sharks left wing Frazer McLaren, left, is unable to get a stick on the rebound as Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cristobal Huet, of France, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, left, and San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau battle against the boards for control of the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


San Jose Sharks defenseman Kent Huskins, right, tries to clear Chicago Blackhawks right wing Kris Versteeg from in front of goalie Evgeni Nabokov, of Kazakhstan, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, left, celebrates with Marian Hossa after Kane's goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 in Chicago. Hossa scored later in the period, but the Sharks won 3-2.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

[DropThePuck]

1 - Hornqvist, P. (14:36 in 3rd)
4 - Bernier, S. (06:39 in 2nd), Sedin, D. (PPG, 16:23 in 2nd), Salo, S. (06:53 in 3rd), Sedin, H. (09:31 in 3rd)


Mason Raymond #21 of the Vancouver Canucks jumps in front of goalie Dan Ellis #39 of the Nashville Predators while trying to provide a screen during the second period of NHL action on December 22, 2009 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
(Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)


Vancouver Canucks' Christian Ehrhoff (5), of Germany, ties up Nashville Predators' Nick Spaling, right, in front of goalie Roberto Luongo, left, as Joel Ward (29) skates away during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)


Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators and Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks fight during the second period of NHL action on December 22, 2009 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
(Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)


Mason Raymond #21 of the Vancouver Canucks slides past goalie Dan Ellis #39 of the Nashville Predators and into the goal post after getting hit from behind during a goal mouth scramble during the second period of NHL action on December 22, 2009 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
(Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)