Thursday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)
Central
- Chris Kuc of The Chicago Tribune discusses the Hawks problems with moving the puck up ice. The problem starts with their defense, which usually gets spoken of in much higher terms.
- A few new blog entries over on the new Puck-rakers. The writers honored Michael Peca as well as describe the Jackets’ playoff hopes.
- Both Todd Bertuzzi and the Red Wings intend to stay together following this season. In reality, Bertuzzi will probably retire wearing the red and white. Coming into tonight’s contest he potted 13 goals and 27 points. Seems like a match made in heaven for the Wings and Ken Holland who coveted the power forward for years.
- Bryan Mullen of The Tennessean argues that the Predators stifle critics by winning.
- Ty Conklin and Andy McDonald played the hero last night as the Blues won in overtime over the Canadiens although not the type of win coach Davis Payne was looking for. ”Even so, we got back to our game … got our feet underneath us. Then it’s one of those plays, the puck’s coming to the net, hits something and goes in. You don’t like giving up the lead, but fortunate for us we made a final play and got the two points in the end,” Payne said.
Northwest
- Most Flames fans expected a bag skate or some other form of punishment from Brent Sutter and the coaching staff. Unfortunately for them, no such practice occurred. “The easy thing would have been to line guys up and make them skate back and forth down the ice,” said Robyn Regehr. “But that’s really something that’s a short-term fix. Sometimes, throughout the season, you might need that. But for us, we have things we need to work on. And that’s what we did.
- Nice feature article on the Avs “Kid Line,” TJ Galiardi, Brandon Yip and Matt Duchene. ”It’s pretty funny,” Yip said. “I’m the oldest guy with the least experience.”
- Despite a questionable call giving the Canucks a victory, coach Pat Quinn refused to bad mouth the referee. ”Where are you trying to take me? Are you trying to get into my grand-kids’ inheritance?” asked Quinn. The experienced coach wants no part of a referee controversy like we saw with Alex Burrows.
- The Minnesota Wild hold eight impending free agents on their roster. Michael Russo of The Star Tribune wonders what the team will do with all of them going in to the March 3rd trade deadline.
- Even though Roberto Luongo played last night, his teammates joked around that the goaltender got the night off. ”It was one of those games everybody expects us to win easily,” said Daniel Sedin. Pretty harsh if you ask me.
Pacific
- Coach Randy Carlyle defends agitator Evgeny Artyukhin. “They pinned it on Artyukhin for no reason,” Carlyle said.
- As the Stars backpack their way through Western Canada, Marc Fistric relives his roots. ”It’s great for me to go back to my adopted home [Vancouver] and my real home [Edmonton], and not just to see friends and family,” Fistric said. ” There are some great memories there and a lot of hockey.” The Stars hope this trip will instill some added life in their young defenseman.
- The latest Kings Notebook discusses the return of Matt Greene and Teddy Purcell.
- Following an embarrassing 7-2 loss over Buffalo, the Coyotes just want to play again. “The quicker the better,” said coach Dave Tippett.
- When the Sharks acquired Dany Heatley they imagined beautiful goals sniped from all angles. What they got is a garbage collector. ”I thought when we got this guy that we’d see him slamming home one-timers from the blue line,” coach Todd McLellan said. “But most of his are dirty-work goals in the paint. Heater scores some ugly goals.”
Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove
