Disching on The NHL [MinnyIce.com Preview]
Joe Johnson
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MassMutual EAST
BOSTON-Frederic Finds Scoring Touch
Boston’s Trent Frederic has scored four times over his last twelve games. Three of them were game-winning as well. Eric Russo takes a brief look at how Frederic has adjusted to finding the net.
BUFFALO-Don Granato Looks to Change Sabres Ways
Former Sabres bench boss Ralph Krueger has been replaced by Don Granato, and this piece in the Buffalo News explains what will be different.
PITTSBURGH-Contender or Pretender?
You can hardly tell if the Penguins are contending for a Stanley Cup or in a rebuild, as this piece from Mark Madden illustrates.
PHILADELPHIA- Going Deep vs. Rangers
Philadelphia and the New York Rangers are set to square off on Wednesday night (7:30pm ET, NBCSN), with the Flyers leading the season series 2-0-1. Did you know that the Flyers and Rangers have played 303 all-time games? Now you do, in addition to these other bits of information previewing the game.
NEW YORK RANGERS-COVID Strikes Coaching Staff
The entire coaching staff for the Rangers is unavailable Wednesday night for New York’s matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers due to a COVID-19 issue. The New York Post’s Mollie Walker explains what happens now.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Anders Lee Done for the Season
The Islanders announced Wednesday that Anders Lee is done for the season after tearing his ACL against New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY-Devils PK Improving Dramatically
CJ Turtoro of SB Nation tells us about how well the Devil penalty kill has performed over its last ten games.
WASHINGTON-Caps to Wear St. Patrick’s Day Warmups on Friday
The Capitals will wear their green warmup jersey to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Friday night, with the warmups being auctioned off for charity afterwards.
Honda WEST
ST. LOUIS-Blues and Kings to Try it Again
Monday night’s contest between the Blues and Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center had to be postponed, but the two teams get together tonight in Hollywood. Here’s a preview.
VEGAS-Knight Time is the Right Time
Vegas defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena. The two teams get together Wednesday night for a showdown in Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas offers this report from the morning skate in preparation for the tilt.
COLORADO-Trade Targets
Colorado needs a backup goaltender, in the opinion of the Denver Post’s Mike Chambers. Chambers offers five goaltenders that the Avs should go after, including one from their biggest rival named Jonathan Bernier.
LOS ANGELES-Kings Flashback to Forum Blue
The Kings were unable to play St. Louis on Monday night, but the Forum blue reverse retro sweaters are one of the things to watch out for as LA Kings Insider Zach Dooley notes in this preview.
ARIZONA-Service Dog Joins the Pack
The English Cream golden retriever is named Bravery, and he’sbeen adopted as the newest member of the Coyotes’ pack. Read more on Arizona’s partnership with National Assistance Dogs, Inc.
MINNESOTA-Soucy Suspended
Minnesota Wild defenseman Carson Soucy is not doing too well right now…he was given a one-game suspension for a high hit in Minnesota’s game with Arizona on Tuesday night. The Star Tribune’s Randy Johnson (not the pitcher) examines.
ANAHEIM-Wild Wing Doesn’t Bring Ducks Luck
Tuesday night was Breakout Night in Anaheim, and that means the Wild Wing reverse retro jersey was on the ice and in full force. However, the Ducks were beaten by the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 after getting out to a 4-2 lead after one. Here’s a recap.
SAN JOSE-Sharks Looking to Win Big on the Strip
After Monday night’s 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, the Sharks are looking to reverse that when the two teams get together Wednesday night (10pm ET, NBC Sports California, ATT SportsNet Rocky Mountain, NHL.TV). Here’s a preview.
Discover CENTRAL
FLORIDA-Are the Panthers For Real?
Let’s face it: the Florida Panthers and playoffs don’t really go well together (at least not yet)…heck, I can even see some of you pulling the Jim Mora press conference clip from deep within YouTube (“Playoffs?!”)…but the Panthers are not to be overlooked come playoff time!
TAMPA BAY-Welcome to Trophy Town
Bryan Burns discusses the recent success in the city of Tampa Bay throughout the sports landscape. If Tom Brady can win a Super Bowl there, and the Lightning can win a Stanley Cup, times in Tampa are great again.
DALLAS-Comparing Oettinger to a Vezina Winner
Rick Bowness knows his stuff when it comes to great hockey players. He can see similarities between Jake Oettinger and Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy, as this notebook from Mike Heika explains.
NASHVILLE-Preds Dealing With the Injury Bug
Brooks Bratten looks at how Nashville has been dealing with injuries on the Predators’ current road trip. Spoiler: They’ve handled it pretty darn well.
COLUMBUS-The New Normal Should Be Here To Stay
According to Ed Francis of 1st Ohio Battery, some of the NHL’s changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic should stick around. Like all of us, he dreams about when venues like Nationwide Arena will be full again.
CHICAGO-How Hawks Can Benefit at Trade Deadline
The NHL trade deadline is roughly a month from now, and NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis takes a look at how Chicago could best utilize its cap space with the deadline looming.
CAROLINA-Canes Breeze Through First Half
The Carolina Hurricanes have started the 56-game season with a 20-7-1 mark at the halfway point, and according to Andrew Schnittker of SB Nation, “Good teams find a way to win.”
DETROIT-Wings Prospect Named Hobey Baker Finalist
Quinnipiac goaltender Keith Petruzzelli has been named one of the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which is presented to college hockey’s best player. Think of the Hobey Baker Award in the same vein as college football’s Heisman Trophy.
Scotia NORTH
CALGARY-Can Calgary Keep Winning?
Calgary hosts Edmonton on Wednesday night (10pm ET, Sportsnet, NHL.TV), and the Flames’ Ty Pilson gives you five things to know prior to the game
EDMONTON-Oilers Limp into Calgary
Edmonton travels to Calgary on Wednesday, but without the services of Jujhar Khaira and Kyle Turris. Both are listed as out according to head coach Dave Tippett. Here’s the Edmonton Journal’s preview.
MONTREAL-Ouellet sparkles in Debut
Xavier Ouellet made his 2021 debut with the Canadiens on Monday night in a 4-2 victory in Winnipeg. It was his first game with Montreal since last season’s playoffs. As this piece by Matt Cudzinowski explains, Ouellet enjoyed partnering with rookie defenseman Alexander Romanov with the two “trying to bring the best out of each other.”
VANCOUVER-Canucks Get in on St. Patrick’s Day O’Fun
From Canucks social media: Vancouver claimed Jimmy Vesey off waivers from Toronto, and the equipment staff already has the St. Patrick’s Day warmup jersey ready. Take a look at it.
TORONTO-Tracking Trade Targets
The Score does its best to assess who the Maple Leafs should go after as the trade deadline approaches. Spoiler alert: Columbus’ Nick Foligno is one, but you’ll have to click the link to see the other four.
OTTAWA-Angus – Not the Beef – Arrives in Ottawa
Angus Crookshank is now a Senator…Ottawa signed him to a three-year entry level deal Wednesday. Crookshank had twenty-seven points (9-18-27) in twenty games with New Hampshire.
WINNIPEG-Jets in Tough Spot
The Jets host the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night (9pm ET, TSN3, NHL.TV), and Monday night marked the first time that the Jets had dropped consecutive games to the same opponent. Here’s a preview of Thursday’s game.