Thursday 31 January 2013

Bruins-Sabres square off; Bertuzzi talks visor; 20 years of Bettman (Puck Previews)

Back by popular demand, here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET. This is the game the Sabres added Steve Ott and John Scott for, right? After the Bruins exposed their last of toughness a year ago, Sabres GM Darcy Regier brought in some grit to compete with the Big Bad Bruins. We're basically all expecting Scott and Shawn Thornton to be out there for the opening faceoff for a game that the Sabres, losers of their previous four, need more than the Bruins, winners of their previous three.

Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET. Since these two teams last met at Madison Square Garden 11 days ago, they've gone in opposite directions. The Penguins have lost three of their last four, while the Rangers have won three of four. They did lose captain Ryan Callahan to a shoulder injury on Tuesday night against Philadelphia, however. Matt Gilroy will make his season debut on the blueline for New York, while Tomas Vokoun, who was in net during the Penguins' 6-3 win on Jan. 20, will get the start for Pittsburgh.

Preview: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET. Despite flu-like symptoms, Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle expects to play tonight as the team looks to improve upon their franchise-best start. The Oilers are playing their first back-to-back tonight and are heading into it hobbling with injuries nagging Shawn Horcoff (out) and Lennart Petrell (game time decision).

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.

Evening Reading

• Today’s Marek Vs. Wyshynski, featuring Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News talking Sabres-Bruins. [MvsW]

• After taking a stick to the eye on Tuesday night, Todd Bertuzzi said he'll "think" about using a visor in the future. [MLive]

• Scott Burnside on Gary Bettman's 20 years in charge. [ESPN]

• "Bet On Coyotes Moving To Seattle As Sale To Jamison Falls Apart". Well, OK. [Forbes]

• "Prospective Seattle NHL Owner Don Levin said Thursday he has not spoken with the league about acquiring the Phoenix Coyotes franchise." Oh. [King5]

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: "Archbishop Krejci" on Hamilton's reaction to a potential arena in Markham:

And Wyshynski complains about the Boston media's fawning over Dougie Hamilton. Canada has already named a city after him, and they want it to be the home of an NHL franchise. Which I'm assuming would be the Hamilton Dougies.

Well done, sir.

Bold Prediction: Nail Yakupov scores, celebrates by standing still, pleasing old, crotchety journalists everywhere.



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