* National Hockey League Previews from The Sports Network *
Just some stuff that I snipped from the previews...
DET at NYR - "Howard, Detroit's No. 1 goaltender, will miss tonight's game with a groin injury, joining regular backup Joey MacDonald (back spasms) on the shelf. That means either veteran backstop Ty Conklin or rookie Jordan Pearce will get the start tonight. Pearce, an undrafted 25-year-old, has never seen action in an NHL game and will only get the start if Conklin doesn't get claimed off re- entry waivers. Conklin was recalled on an emergency basis from Grand Rapids of the AHL, but needed to offered up on waivers before being cleared to play tonight."
"The Red Wings will also be without captain and top defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom for an 11th straight game tonight. Lidstrom is dealing with a bone bruise in his right ankle and could return Saturday when Detroit returns home to face Carolina."
VAN at CHI - "The Blackhawks have lost four of their past five versus the Canucks and dropped a 6-1 decision in the first meeting in Chicago back on Nov. 6. Vancouver has won four of its past six trips to the Windy City."
STL at ANA - "On the injury front for St. Louis, forwards Jason Arnott (body soreness) and David Backes (bruised left foot) are questionable for tonight." ... "St. Louis is 2-1-1 so far on a seven-game road trip, improving its mediocre away record this season to 17-15-4." ... "Tonight marks the start of a three-game homestand for the Ducks, who are 19-16-2 in Orange County this season." ... "St. Louis won two straight at home (AT STL) over the Ducks after losing the season series' opener in Anaheim on Oct. 16. The Blues have taken five of eight from Anaheim overall, but the Ducks have claimed four in a row and eight of the last nine matchups at the Honda Center."
MON at BUF - "Buffalo is 4-0-1 against the Canadiens this season and the Sabres have taken seven of eight overall in this series. Montreal has fared well in western New York recently, however, posting a 3-0-2 mark in its last five trips to Buffalo." ...
... "Tonight's game will mark Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers' first game back following a three-game suspension for an illegal hit from behind on Montreal's Scott Gomez. The controversial hit came in Buffalo's 3-2 overtime win over the Habs on March 12 and Gomez is still sidelined with concussion-like symptoms." ... "Buffalo will alternate home and away games over until closing the regular season with consecutive road tilts. The Sabres are 18-11-8 at home this year and 16-18-2 as the guest." ... "Regular No. 1 netminder Carey Price will get the start tonight and is 9-7-6
with a 2.00 goals-against average in 22 career games against Buffalo. Montreal has lost six of its last eight road games and is 15-17-4 away from the Bell Centre this season." ... "Montreal has lost three of its last four games, but has earned at least a point in each of its last six contests, going 3-0-3 over that stretch."
FLA at CAR - "Florida has won five straight games for its longest winning streak since a franchise-best seven-game burst from March 2-16, 2008." ... "The victory (over Philly last night) snapped Florida's three-game road slide and gave it at least one win over every team in the Eastern Conference this season. The Panthers are a perfect 4-0 versus the Hurricanes so far this campaign, including a pair of wins at Carolina." ... "The Hurricanes appear to be fading from the postseason picture despite playing some of their better hockey as of late. The Canes are 5-2-2 in their past nine games and matched a season high with a third straight victory by taking Sunday's contest in Winnipeg by a 4-3 margin." ... "Carolina will try to win four straight for the first time since Dec. 11-18 of last season and will have forward Jeff Skinner back as he returns from a two- game suspension for kicking a Blues player last Thursday in a 2-0 win. Skinner is second on the club with 20 goals, trailing only Staal's 21." ... "Defenseman Joni Pitkanen is also likely to suit up for the first time since Dec. 6 for Carolina after being activated from injured reserve. He has missed 44 straight games while recovering from both a concussion and knee surgery." However, forward Andrea Nodl could miss at least a week due to a head injury suffered on Sunday that could be a concussion.