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Category: NHL-Teams

Injuries Hitting Canadiens

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 03:00 PM ET
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via TSN,

The Montreal Canadiens got some news on Saturday about their injured players, but the news wasn’t good.

Following Saturday’s morning skate, head coach Guy Carbonneau revealed that Carey Price is suffering from a lower body injury on top of a cold that he’s been fighting for a few days now.

Carbonneau said that Price sustained the injury during Wednesday’s practice and that the starting goaltender will remain off the ice for at least four more days.

Also on Saturday, Carbonneau made public the result of Saku Koivu’s MRI, stating that the captain will be out of the lineup for two weeks.

Carbonneau also confirmed on Saturday that Christopher Higgins will be out at least five more weeks, saying it’s the same injury that has kept defenceman Mike Komisarek out since mid-November.

 

Filed in: NHL Teams, Montreal Canadiens, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Dmen Experience A Great Asset For Sharks

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 02:16 PM ET
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from Phil Coffey of NHL.com .

Never overlook the value of experience when it comes to winning the Stanley Cup.

History has proven that point time and again, so it’s an important element in the construction of the San Jose Sharks, who have been nearly unbeatable this season.

General Manager Doug Wilson acquired three players who have won the Stanley Cup, adding that tried-and-tested experience to a talent-laden roster.

And the fact all three are defensemen doesn’t hurt either. Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich were members of the 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning, and Rob Blake won the 2001 Cup in Colorado. That’s an awful lot of experience on the Sharks’ blue line.

continued plus more hockey topics…

Filed in: NHL Teams, San Jose Sharks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Games Start At 1:00pm Today

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 12:51 PM ET
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Get the fireplace lit early today, sparks should be flying when Pittsburgh takes on Philadelphia at 1pm today.

More great games on today’s schedule, check below for your favorite matchup.

Continue Reading »

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Malkin At The Top When Down

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 12:29 PM ET
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from Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star,

But, when it comes to stellar performances in the face of a daunting deficit, the real comeback kid is Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin.

In this, the year of the comeback in the NHL, no one has been better at chipping away at a lead when the chips are down.

Three times the Penguins have bounced back to win games in which they trailed by at least two goals and Malkin had seven points in those three games. While such prowess might seem run-of-the mill for the league’s leading scorer, Malkin’s production is higher in those games when all seems lost (2.33 points per game) than in the rest of his outings (1.58 points per game).

“He’s one of those guys who, when you’re down by a goal, two goals or even four goals, they’re not cashing it in. He has a great will to win,” said Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: evgeni+malkin

Panthers In The Playoff Hunt

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 11:35 AM ET
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from George Richards of On Frozen Pond,

Last time Florida won four straight on the road prior to this season: Last year at this time; 1997, ‘96 and ‘95.

—Panthers pull into a tie with Buffalo for eighth in the East. From last in the NHL to Top Eight in the east, second in the division. Not too shabby.

Says Pete DeBoer:

“It wasn’t that long ago we were sitting at the bottom of the league. They’ve picked themselves up and it hasn’t been easy with the injuries we’ve faced. It would have been easy at that point to pack the season in, lose three or four in a row and be totally out of it in December.

‘‘Instead, they’ve kind of beaten the odds here. We’ve used different guys and they’ve clawed back into it. We have a long way to go. As I said a few games ago, we’re not throwing any parades around here.’‘

more

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Chicago Poised To Make A Run At The Wings

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 11:31 AM ET
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from Hawkey Challenge,

Winners of three straight and four of their last five games, the Hawks are at last an NHL team to be reckoned with.

Chicago’s success has largely been due to the aggressive philosophy of General Manager Dale Tallon to land hockey talent in the Windy City, as well as Joel Quenneville’s success since taking over the job behind the bench….

Detroit lost tonight, 3-1 to Dallas, so the Hawks are just seven points back of the Red Wings now with a game in hand….

The excitement continues, as the Hawks not only remain poised to finally return to the playoffs, but also look to give Detroit a serious push for the top spot in the Central Division.

more

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Now What Rangers?

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 11:18 AM ET
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from Stan Fischler at Game On,

Tom Renney has his hands full as he lays out strategy for tonight’s game at The Garden against Carolina. After the roller coaster — also humiliating in the end — 8-5 loss to New Jersey on Friday night in Newark, the Blueshirts coach has much on his mind. To wit:

GOALTENDING: Does he start Henny Lundqvist who relinquished an unprecedented eight goals to the Devils against the ‘Canes? Or does Tom go back to Steve Valiquette who starred on Wednesday night in the overtime win at Atlanta?...

DEFENSE: While Lundqvist played the sieve, his defense — is THAT the word? — was less effective than cleansing tissue. After the Blueshirts valiantly rallied from a 1-5 deficit in the second period to tie the count at 5-5 in the third, the backline simply disappeared from view.

more

added 10:34am, from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

Redden and Rozsival were dreadful in last night’s 8-5 defeat to the Devils at the Rock. They were not the only ones on a night that the Rangers barely competed without the puck, but it seemed that every time you looked up, there was Redden or Rozsival being beaten to the puck, or to a spot, or by a Devil. It seemed that every time you looked up, there was Redden or Rozsival shying away from taking the body.

Believe me, last night wasn’t the first time this year that these two who eat up chunks of cap space and equally as importantly, chunks of critical ice time, seemed to be watching the parade pass them by.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Win Over Detroit Gives Stars A Blueprint For Success

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 11:15 AM ET
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from Five For Fighting,

Mike Modano mentioned after this one that this was a good tape for the Stars to hold onto, to remind them that they can do this and this is how they’re going to have to play for a while. I admit, that was a fun game to watch. Great performance by Marty Turco, solid defense in front of him, and you could tell that Fabian Brunnstrom and Tom Wandell were thrilled to score against their Swedish idols.

Said Brunnstrom: “Of course I know all the players on Detroit so it was fun.” Same from Wandell: “I can’t really describe the feeling right now. I have to wake up first.”

Said Turco: “Personally, I felt great tonight. A team that does shoot the puck as often as they do, you have to be on your toes at all times. It certainly does feel good to get this one.”

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Dallas Stars, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

The Backup Speaks

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 11:08 AM ET
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Caps website producer Brett Leonhardt speaks to the media about getting the call to back up tonight.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: brett+leonhardt

Avs Run Into Some ‘Bad Luck’

by Paul on 12/13/08 at 10:59 AM ET
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from Adrian Dater of All Things Avs,

Total cave job by the mediocre, middlin’, muddlin’ Colorado Avalanche tonight, folks.

Had the night off, but I still watched the contest on the House Channel. Rest assured, Avs fans, it was just all “bad luck” tonight for the local according to the House Men (and I really do think Mike Haynes and Peter McNab are top-notch at what they do. I just wish they could speak their minds more. A shame, really. The real villains in this are the overly sensitive, we-can’t-take-any-criticism-so-we-self-produce-our-own-propaganda-on-house-channel sports team owners).

This is what mediocre teams do in big home games, games that could pivot a season toward the playoffs: they get out to a little lead early on, then have chances to build on it, but don’t do it. Then the mediocre team starts to tighten up a little, and, boom, the game is tied. Then the medidcre team starts to tighten up a little more, then gets a call go against them. Finally, the mediocre team has the BIG PLAY happen against it and falls behind.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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