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.
• Seven games on the schedule tonight. For previews of the 7 p.m. starts, head to the Y! Sports scores and scheds page.
• Jason Brough, one of the Kurtenblog pranksters, writes about the relationship between Vancouver Canucks star Mats Sundin and PokerStars.net, a free poker site for fun ... which looks a heck of a lot like PokerStars.com, a poker site where you win money. How does the NHL allow Sundin to be paid with what amounts to gambling dough? [Vancouver Province/KB]
• Good stuff from Jack Todd about photos blazing up the Internet featuring Carey Price and other Habs having some fun. [Gazette, and Mirtle's got one of the photos up]
Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: CSNC, SUN). The Bolts are considering shutting down defenseman Paul Ranger for the season. Meanwhile, Evgeni Artyukhin is a healthy scratch and Vinny Prospal has disappeared from the scorer's sheet. Cristobal Huet is in goal for the Hawks tonight, who are seven points up on Dallas for the four seed in the West.
• So even after getting a list of 10 super-secret teams Tomas Kaberle would be willing to be traded to, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke says that he won't ask Kaberle to waive his no-trade clause at the deadline. Which, we figure, means he'll just trade him this summer. Hey, guess what -- this article was about Pavel Kubina. And we are dumb. [Sportsnet]
SportsWrap
The top sports headlines of the day
• Interesting note at the end of this post about the AHL regarding the Dan BYL-zmuh Era for the Pittsburgh Penguins. And how short it might be. [John Walton Hockey]
Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSW). Willie Mitchell is usually assigned to defend Jarome Iginla when these two teams meet. So in a bit of delightful gamesmanship, Flames Coach Mike Keenan decided to drop a dime about Mitch having an illegal stick. Said Mitchell: "I've got a tape measure. It's not my stick that does the work, anyway. It's my brain." Hi-yo!
• Note to self: If you use a hockey stick in a violent attack, don't then throw it into a ditch. Because they can totally C.S.I. that bad boy. [The News (U.K.)]
• Much like the Blame Ray Shero movement has swept over Pittsburgh fans, the Blame Glen Sather movement may just spare Tom Renney from taking the brunt of the criticism for the New York Rangers' struggles. [NYRangerscast]
Preview: New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG+, FSFL). Tomas Vokoun will face Scott Clemmensen in this one. Talk that Martin Brodeur may get back in action this weekend for the Devils seems a bit premature. Like in a "not gonna happen" way.
• This blog by former New York Islanders prospect Justin Bourne is pretty damn spectacular. [THN]
• Ross McKeon's latest power rankings are up, with an emphasis on coaches that could be in trouble. Honestly hadn't thought about the respective situations of Randy Carlyle and Paul Maurice until he wrote them. [Y!]
• Brad Richards will miss up to eight weeks with a broken wrist. Awful news for the Stars. [Dallas Stars Blog]
Preview: Ottawa Senators at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSN, ALT). The Senators have a chance to make a little history tonight: a perfect five-game road trip for the first time in franchise history. Defenseman John-Michael Liles is out indefinitely for the Avs with a hand injury; suck it up, you've got another one.
• The Forechecker has an interesting social experiment going on regarding anonymously sourced and/or fabricated rumors at the trade deadline. Hopefully one that's litigation proof. [On The Forecheck]
• Interesting look at Jay Bouwmeester from an offensive perspective. [Litter Box Cats]
Preview: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: OPPV, CSBA). Interesting news from the Sharks, as injuries in the lineup have forced Coach Todd McLellan to move Patrick Marleau from the left of center Joe Thornton and right wing Devin Setoguchi to a center spot on another line with Mike Grier and Jonathan Cheechoo. What we're really trying to say is, "Pick up Lukas Kaspar in your deep fantasy league, pronto."
• Joe Sakic could be back in March. [Slam!]
• Finally, Puck Buddy Larry S. saw this Calgary Hitmen ad and writes: "It has an angle I don't think I've even in sports advertising. It has a vibe that screams 'Come to our games and meet hot girls.' It's either that or they're saying that 'Our puck bunnies are better than yours.' I'm just surprised that this angle is played in Calgary and not some place that the temperature is above freezing for more than 6 months out of the year."
