Monday NHL Morning Papers (Western Confernece)

In NHL Morning Papers we break down the stories published in newspapers around the country. By reading our synopsis the average hockey fan can catch up to all the happenings around the National Hockey League.

Central Division

Add another chapter to the Blackhawks’ nasty rivalry with the Canucks. Following Vancouver’s 5-1 victory over the Hawks on Saturday night, center Ryan Kesler called Hawks winger Andrew Ladd a “coward.” Apparently, Kesler is still angry about a hit by Ladd during last season’s Western Conference semifinals.
Predators defenseman Cody Franson may be young, but he hasn’t been handled with kid gloves. “We’ve made it hard on him the first couple of years,” Coach Barry Trotz said. Franson, 22, is in his first season in the NHL after spending recent years trying to make the jump. He has been a major contributor in recent weeks, but it’s been a herky jerky ride to get to this point.
The Blue Jackets aren’t skating today. Not-so-fresh off a 4-2 loss in St. Paul last night, the Jackets are using their first two-day break since Jan. 3-4 to rest weary legs, catch their breath and heal some wounds.
When the Blues coughed up another third-period lead Saturday night against Anaheim, some jokers suggested that the club should fire Andy Murray. Murray was dismissed Jan. 2 in part because of the Blues’ third-period collapses, including two blown 3-0 leads at Scottrade Center. Under new coach Davis Payne, the Blues have shown steady improvement in several areas, including their play in the third period, but Saturday the club suffered a relapse.
Johan Franzen might be the lone player in the trainer’s room soon — or so the Red Wings hope. Niklas Kronwall, out since Nov. 21 because of a sprained left medial collateral ligament, and Tomas Holmstrom, out since Jan. 6 because of a broken foot, could return as early as this week. Jason Williams, out since Nov. 7 because of a broken right fibula, might be close after that.

Northwest Division

Joe Sacco was so sick Sunday night, he had to keep leaving the Avalanche bench in the third period. It’s a wonder former Colorado coach Marc Crawford wasn’t made ill from watching his own Dallas Stars for 60 minutes. The Avalanche showed no pity on a banged-up, road-weary Stars team, beating Dallas 4-0 in front of only 11,741 at the Pepsi Center. It was Colorado’s sixth win in a row and its second shutout in the last three games.
Like King Henry of song, Vancouver Canuck head coach Alain Vigneault won’t have a Willie or a Sam again tonight when he formulates his game plan for the Buffalo Sabres. Veteran defencemen Willie Mitchell and Sami Salo did not skate at practice Sunday and, hence, won’t be available to confront Lindy Ruff’s over-achieving Sabres at GM Place.
Three days of meetings, video sessions, good practices and an argument or two have hopefully swept aside a sea of negativity surrounding, and perhaps within, the Calgary Flames. In tough times such as these, it is important to remain positive, to remain upbeat and confident despite the heavy and often justified criticism that comes with six straight losses.
It was a match the Edmonton Oilers couldn’t lose. The irony of a team skills competition at Rexall Place Sunday afternoon wasn’t lost on fans, who nonetheless turned out in the thousands. “They can’t lose this game,” joked fan Tim Burton. It’s been a tough season for the Oilers, who are on a 10-game losing streak and currently last in league standings.
In recent games, the Wild has faced off with Pittsburgh, Chicago and Los Angeles — three teams in various stages of development but all stacked with young, star-studded talent. This is what the Wild wants to become. It’ll be a tedious task, however, because the Wild doesn’t have the luxury — so to speak — of following their blueprint.

Pacific Division

Seconds after a jubilant Scottie Upshall completed the first hat trick of his career Thursday night, he apparently wanted to make sure Coyotes teammate Jim Vandermeer knew about it.Vandermeer, content to be a happy bystander as Upshall unleashed his glee, wasn’t quite sure what to expect when Upshall raced toward him. Seconds later, the defenseman found himself on the ice.
Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said Friday his harsh evaluation of Jack Johnson‘s old flaws in an interview on the blog frozenroyalty.net was intended to lend perspective to the defenseman’s progress, not to disparage Johnson or the University of Michigan. In the interview, conducted by Gann Matsuda and published as part of a series, Lombardi said Johnson “never had any coaching” at Michigan and was “awful as a hockey player” before he joined the Kings and refined his game enough to be chosen for the U.S. Olympic team at the Vancouver Games.
Marty Turco fully understands the weight of his current situation, he just doesn’t believe it helps him in any way to dwell on it. The 34-year-old goalie’s contract expires at the end of this season, and he and the Dallas Stars are not discussing an extension. He has struggled at times and last week was replaced by backup goalie Alex Auld for three straight games. And with the NHL’s trade deadline coming March 3, there is always the thought he could be playing for a different team before the end of the season.
Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski has been waiting his entire five-year NHL career for an opportunity to show off his shootout skills. That chance finally came Saturday night. Wisniewski scored in the seventh round of the tiebreaker to help the Ducks rally past the St. Louis Blues 4-3 for their eighth victory in 11 games.
McLellan breaks stretch of games into segments. The schedule shows the Sharks are 40 percent of the way through a five-game homestand, but that’s not how coach Todd McLellan views it. “We’re looking at it in segments,” he said. From his perspective, the Sharks have just finished one segment of nine games in 15 nights. Six were at home and three on the road.

Hat tip to the now defunct Illegal Curve for their permission in taking over this daily series.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Be the first to comment - What do you think? Posted by Anthony Curatolo - January 25, 2010 at 6:00 am

Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Alex Auld, Andrew Ladd, Cody Franson, Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski, Jason Williams, Jim Vandermeer, Johan Franzen, Marty Turco, Niklas Kronwall, Ryan Kesler, Sami Salo, Scottie Upshall, Tomas Holmstrom, Willie Mitchell

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Monday NHL Morning Papers (Western Confernece)

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