Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. EST: TV: ALT2, FSOH). No Adam Foote; what will Jackets fans do with all of those raw eggs and rotten fruit? Meanwhile, Andrew Raycroft gets the go for the Avs. Adrian Dater: "That's four straight starts for Rayzor, while Boods contemplates losing his starting job for the second straight season right around the midway point, this time to a different goalie."
• Meanwhile, in Toronto: "Oh, and just to warn you, if Raycroft does in fact finish with a higher save percentage than Toskala, and Paul Maurice leads the Carolina Hurricanes to the playoffs, I'm going to need a hug, and a glass of booze, more than I've never needed either before." [Sports and the City]
Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSPI, CSP). The Flyers are looking for their ninth win in a row at home. FanHouse has the latest "canning Michel Therrien ain't gonna fix what's broke with Pittsburgh" piece.
Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, CSN). In which the Caps attempt to avoid a two-game losing streak at home, and looking ahead at Sidney and Co. on Wednesday night.
• Evgeni Malkin isn't sure why Alexander Ovechkin seeks to hit him so often when they play. "Ovechkin is a great player, but every time he hits me - I don't know why." If you read that line with the music from "The Incredible Hulk" TV series playing in the background, it'll make you mist up, guaranteed. Puck Daddy reader Chuck opines: "Can you f-in believe the comments by Crosby in this article? It's like the guy lives in an alternate reality. Ovechkin plays tough and physical the right way, yet Crosby spins it like he took a few shots at someone's cojones from behind." [AP]
Sports
Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. EST; TV: VS., RDS). A rare appearance for a Canadian franchise on Versus, and it's a hell of a matchup. Statement game for both teams: For the Habs, that they can beat the Bruins this season after curb-stomping them in the previous two years; for Boston, that they can beat Montreal despite missing several key players.
Preview: New York Rangers at New York Islanders (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG). This rivalry remains a huge deal to the fans in New York. As Point Blank points out, not so much for one of the local papers: "With the Islanders hosting the Rangers tonight in Game 43 of the season, Newsday - which is owned by Cablevision, which owns the Rangers - did not have a story on the Islanders or the Rangers in this morning's print edition." Weird. Or par for the course these days. One of the two.
• In case there was any confusion, Brian Lawton puts a fine point on it: "Are we trying to trade Vinny Lecavalier? No we are not. Is the Tampa Bay Lightning going out of business? No it isn't." [Bolts Report]
• Michael Farber offers some advice to Vincent Lecavalier: Just say no to a trade, sir. [SI]
Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. EST: TV: FSS, RSN) If the Senators can finagle Chris Campoli from the Islanders, Bryan Murray keeps his job.
Preview: Nashville Predators at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, LTV). Injuries to Nikolai Kulemin and Jeremy Williams, and Mikhail Grabovski's suspension, could mean the home debut for Brad May and Ryan Hollweg playing on the fourth line rather getting a scratch. We're sure the Preds are thrilled. No Jason Arnott tonight for Nashville. Pekka Rinne starts.
Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. EST; TV: FSAZ, KSTC). Hey, they finally caught those guys who were breaking into cars and stealing stuff during Wild home games. Mental note: Don't use a stolen credit card to buy Wii and Xbox games at Target.
• Why Obama should embrace hockey in the nation's capital. [Japers]
• The hype machine is already getting cranked up for the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks showdown. [Snapshots]
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSMW, RSW). Chris Mason should get the start for the Blues. From the AP: "The Flames are also seeking their sixth straight home win over St. Louis (16-22-5), and are 14-1-1 overall in their last 16 matchups with the Blues." Ouch.
Preview: New Jersey Devils at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, CPPV). OK, so Brendan Shanahan isn't exactly signed, but he's practicing and stuff. Good enough, right? Jersey dodges Roberto Luongo, who's ready to play but won't go this evening.
Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: CSBA). "No dude, it's cool; Oren and Len told me they'd never trade me." "Yeah, you know, they said the same thing to me this one time. Say, how's Matt Carle working out for you guys?" "Who now?"
• The Atlanta Thrashers now have Rich Peverley. [Thrashers]
• Finally, a really obscure YouTube find: Jim Kyte takes a throat shot during a Las Vegas Thunder game, and isn't happy about it -- on ESPN2, no less. (some NSFW language).
