Morning Skate: Sunday, 3/1

Is it really March already!?!?

Today’s Slate:
Flyers @ Devils, 1:00 ET
Kings @ Blackhawks, 3:00
Penguins @ Stars, 3:00
Panthers @ Capitals, 3:00
Blue Jackets @ Canucks, 8:00
Lightning @ Flames, 8:00

Games of the Day:
Game #1: Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils
1:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Flyers (33-17-10) … Devils (40-19-3)
Last Ten: Flyers (7-2-1) … Devils (7-3-0)
Away/Home: Flyers (15-9-6) … Devils (21-10-1)
Season Series: Tied 2-2

Players to watch:
PHI- Daniel Briere
Briere will be returning to the lineup for the first time since December 2.
NJ- Jamie Langenbrunner
I just have a gut feeling that the captain will have a good game today.

Projected Goaltenders:
PHI- Martin Biron (08-09 stats: 19-12-5, 2.85 GAA)
NJ- Martin Brodeur (Last 2 starts: 2-0, 1.00 GAA)

Injury Report:
PHI- Kimmo Timonen (flu, probable)
NJ- None

Game Thoughts:
I’m expecting this to be a very physical and intense matchup as the Flyers look to make up ground in the Atlantic. Brodeur & the Devils crushed Florida 7-2 yesterday and you know what happens after blowout wins; a letdown could be in the cards for New Jersey. Look for Philly, who is a good road team, to steal a win today at ‘The Rock’.

Prediction: Flyers 3, Devils 2
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Game #2: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Vancouver Canucks
8:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Blue Jackets (31-25-6) … Canucks (31-22-8)
Last Ten: Blue Jackets (7-2-1) … Canucks (8-2-0)
Away/Home: Blue Jackets (12-15-4) … Canucks (15-11-4)
Season Series: 3-0 Blue Jackets

Players to watch:
CBJ- Rick Nash
After a nice stretch, Nash is pointless in the 2 games in Western Canada.
VAN- Pavol Demitra
Demitra was much better in February, picking up 13 points in 11 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
CBJ- Steve Mason (08-09 stats: 24-14-3, 2.14 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (08-09 stats: 20-8-5, 2.50 GAA)

Injury Report:
CBJ- Jason Chimera (groin, out), O-K Tollefsen (knee, out), Fredrik Modin (knee, out), Rostislav Klesla (shoulder, out), Derick Brassard (shoulder, out), Pascal Leclaire (ankle, out)
VAN- Jannik Hansen (finger, out), Lawrence Nycholat (groin, out), Rick Rypien (personal, out)

Game Thoughts:
The Jackets rebounded from a loss in Calgary by shutting out Edmonton 1-0. Can Mason’s success carry over?? Vancouver was arguably the best team in the league in the month of February, going 9-2, and propelling them to 5th in the West. I think Columbus will keep this one close, but the Canucks will eek out a victory in a crucial game.

Prediction: Canucks 2, Blue Jackets 1
The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Blackhawks over Kings
Penguins over Stars
Capitals over Panthers
Flames over Lightning