Morning Skate (12/9)

Ryan brings us the Morning Skate and a duck pun....oh my! Well here it goes.



The Morning After:
Last night’s scores:
Flyers 6, Islanders 2
Canadiens 4, Senators 1
Predators 4, Canucks 2
Ducks 4, Stars 3 (OT)
Predictions record: 2-2

My 3 stars from last night:
1. Jaroslav Halak, MTL (45 Saves, 1 GA)
Halak was under siege most of the night, making point-blank saves and fending off 7 Ottawa power plays.
2. Martin Erat, NSH (3 Goals, 1 Assist)
Erat continued his recent hot streak with a well-earned hat trick.
3. Dan Sexton, ANA (2 Goals)
Sexton scored his first two NHL goals, including the game-tying tally with just over a minute remaining.
Honorable Mention: M. Richards, J. Carter
Dud of the Night:
Dallas Stars… Marc Crawford’s bunch held a 3-0 lead in the 2nd period, and had the Ducks dead in the water (no pun intended). But they couldn’t hold on, and lost their ninth overtime game of the season.
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Tonight’s Slate:
Islanders @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 ET
Hurricanes @ Devils, 7:00
Panthers @ Blue Jackets, 7:00
Capitals @ Sabres, 7:00
Blues @ Red Wings, 7:30
Oilers @ Lightning, 7:30
Rangers @ Blackhawks, 8:30
Wild @ Avalanche, 9:00
Thrashers @ Flames, 9:30
Kings @ Sharks, 10:30

Games of the Night:
Washington Capitals @ Buffalo Sabres
7:00 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Capitals (19-5-6) … Sabres (16-9-2)
Last Ten: Capitals (7-1-2) … Sabres (4-5-1)
Away/Home: Capitals (10-3-3) … Sabres (9-5-2)
Season Series: 1-0 Capitals

Players to watch:
WSH- Alexander Semin
He has 8 points in 3 games since returning from injury, but has horrible career numbers vs. Buffalo.
BUF- Thomas Vanek
Mr. Vanek… you gotta get going!! Stop killing my fantasy teams!

Projected Goaltenders:
WSH- Semyon Varlamov (09/10 stats: 12-1-2, 2.21 GAA)
BUF- Ryan Miller (09/10 stats: 16-6-2, 1.90 GAA)

Injury Report:
WSH- Mike Knuble (finger, out), Matt Bradley (face, out), Quintin Laing (jaw, out), Boyd Gordon (back, out)
BUF- Andrej Sekera (ankle, questionable), Chris Butler (ankle, doubtful), Paul Gaustad (knee, out), Mike Grier (personal, out)

Game Thoughts:
Washington are winners of 7 straight, and have Ovechkin back in the lineup. How did the winning streak start?? With a win against the Sabres. I know Lindy Ruff and company remember that, as they were shutout in DC. I think Buffalo seeks revenge tonight, and avoids a third straight loss at home.
Prediction: Sabres 3, Capitals 2
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Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks
10:30 ET… TV: Local Networks

Records:
Overall: Kings (18-10-3) … Sharks (19-7-5)
Last Ten: Kings (6-3-1) … Sharks (5-3-2)
Away/Home: Kings (10-6-1) … Sharks (8-2-3)
Season Series: 1-0-1 Kings

Players to watch:
LA- Wayne Simmonds
Simmonds is hot right now with 8 points and a +8 rating in the last 7 games.
SJ- Ryane Clowe
He started slowly, but has picked it up with a point in 17 of the last 19 games.

Projected Goaltenders:
LA- Erik Ersberg (09/10 stats: 1-1-0, 4.18 GAA)
SJ- Evgeni Nabokov (09/10 stats: 16-5-5, 2.32 GAA)

Injury Report:
LA- Ryan Smyth (upper body, out), Brandon Segal (lower body, out), Andrei Loktionov (shoulder, out)
SJ- Brad Staubitz (face, out), Jody Shelley (soreness, out)

Game Thoughts:
Does this game mean more to the Kings or Sharks?? Los Angeles is looking to keep closing in on San Jose, while the Sharks need to get back on track and send a message. LA is hot, but with Ersberg in net I don’t like their chances. I think Todd McLellan’s bunch is mad after two frustrating losses. Go with the Sharkies…
Prediction: Sharks 4, Kings 2

The rest of tonight’s predictions:
Maple Leafs over Islanders
Devils over Hurricanes
Panthers over Blue Jackets
Red Wings over Blues
Lightning over Oilers
Blackhawks over Rangers
Avalanche over Wild
Flames over Thrashers

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