Thursday 24 January 2013

Flyers, Kings, Rinne look for first wins; Subban wants to be paid what he’s worth (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.

Presented without comment: a Pittsburgh Penguins fan.

Preview: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET. The Rangers finally got their first win of the season Wednesday night, knocking of the Boston Bruins in overtime. Can they keep the momentum going against a Flyers team that's looked like Jackie Stallone through their first 3 games, or will the Flyers finally put it all together? It'll be tougher with Scott Hartnell out indefinitely with a left foot injury and Brayden Schenn serving his one-game suspension, but Ilya Bryzgalov has a plan: "That's why we have to be with the attitude that it's the playoffs." But not last year's playoffs. A different playoffs.

Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. ET. A win for Chicago Wednesday night would give them a 4-0-0 start for the first time since the early 1970s. But the Stars are no pushover, and Chicago's high-powered offence will have to be in fine form to put pucks past Kari Lehtonen. As a Star, Lehtonen is 4-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA versus Chicago with Dallas, and he's coming off a near-shutout performance in his last start.

Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m. ET. Dustin Penner rides the pine for the Kings, who are trying to find the answer to their early-season struggles. They're 0-2 out of the gate. The Oilers would normally be a nice chance to right the ship, but Edmonton's looked better this year, and they don't have as many core players fighting off the rust. And speaking of shaking off the rust, this is Anze Kopitar's first game since returning from injury, and he still looked like he was finding his legs on Tuesday. If he's found them, the Kings might finally get into the win column.

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

• P.K. Subban on his contract deadlock with the Canadiens: "It’s come down to this — I want to be paid what I’m worth." [Montreal Gazette]

• Just as expected, injuries are taking their toll early in the 2013 season. [ESPN]

• If you're wondering when the last Chicago shutout was, this site is helpful. [Did the Blackhawks Get a Shutout?]

• The Buffalo Sabres sold more merchandise last week than they sold throughout all of last season. Lockout! Lockout! [Sabres]

• Reader Derek Bargaehr takes the "Jerts" typo from this morning's blooper post to its logical conclusion. [Meme Generator]

• A lengthy, in-depth dissertation on why the Calgary Flames are bad. [Hockey Hurts]

• It's over for the Flyers, you guys. [What the Hell is icing]

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Guy on puke city in Rapid City:

“And people wonder why UFO's leave so quickly.”

Bold Prediction: Pekka Rinne gets his first win of the season versus St. Louis.



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