Malkin back vs. Lightning; Blackhawks anthem singer’s glass-shattering secret (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.

Blasphemy, via McKenna: I was at MSG with my puck buddy, she is a NJ Devils fan. We this NY Ranger jersey with the Bon Jovi, had a good laugh.”

Preview: New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET. It’s James Reimer vs. Not Marty Brodeur, which is the essential info from the Devils side. Well, that and they’re looking to avoid their first five-game losing streak in more than two years.

Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:30 p.m. ET. Evgeni Malkin makes his return for the Penguins, after his concussion on Feb. 22. The Penguins have outscored the Lightning 23-9 in their four straight wins in the series. Mathieu Garon starts against Marc-Andre Fleury.

Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Phoenix Coyotes, 9 p.m. ET. It’s like the Angels vs. the Diamondbacks! As in, it’s the first of a three-game set between the teams. (Thanks lockout schedule.) It’s looking like Jonas Hiller vs. Mike Smith.

Preview: Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET. The Kings are hot, winning five of six games. The Preds have lost four of five, but they’ve beaten the Kings twice this season. Darryl Sutter on the Kings’ optional skate this morning: “I think we’ll probably be in the same thing all week. Some guys want to. You can’t say ‘none’. Some guys want a handful of minutes. Some guys want to try skates, sticks, gloves, all those things. You’ve got to get them here, so it’s not so much on-ice. Even yesterday, we had some guys out there for 15 minutes, some guys out for 30.”

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 Goalie Post.

Evening Reading

Patrick Burke and Tracey Myers joined us on the podcast today, along with the NHL’s most dive-y teams. [Marek Vs. Wyshynski]

In which Alex Ovechkin says what he wants from linemate Mike Ribeiro, i.e. control of the puck: “Of course when I have speed that’s when I want it. I don’t want to have speed and stop on the blue line and then slowly go to offensive zone and then lost the puck and then go back,” he said. “It’s kind of position you going to be struggling all the time. If I’m going to have that kind of position, puck in neutral zone and I can make a move we’ll make puck deep and find it that way, I’m going to feel much better.” [WashTimes]

Jim Cornelison reveals the secret behind his glass-shattering performance. (Hint: Fraud!) [DNAInfo]

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Via Playboy Perry, on Stephen A. Smith:

This is what happens when ESPN asks someone who calls himself a "basketball analyst" a question related to hockey. I'm surprised Stephen A. Smith could even form a sentence that didn't involve LeBron or Kobe.

Bold Prediction: The Preds pull the upset in LA, in a shootout.