Sports Scans Daily Brief 11 25 2011

8/3/2019 Sports Scans Daily Brief 11 25 2011

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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEFNHL 11/25/2011

Anaheim Ducks590386 Up next for Ducks: Friday vs. Chicago590387 Bobby Ryan misses practice, should be back Friday

Boston Bruins590388 Bruins' streak sends the mind racing590389 NBC carves out a piece of holiday with NHL590390 Red Wings thumbnails590391 Bruins stick to plan

Buffalo Sabres590392 Former No. 1 draft pick gets the call590393 Highs and lows define Sabres590394 Kassian apparently gets call from Sabres590395 Sabres' injuries piling up, Ruff ready to proceed with limited

manpower

Calgary Flames590396 Flame complains penalty call likely only in Detroit590397 Game Day: Calgary at St. Louis590398 Flames finish last season was misleading: team president590399 Flames' Stempniak has fond memories of Blues590400 Flames rebuilding ... slowly590401 Flames winger late Blue-mer

Carolina Hurricanes590402 Canes seem to be back on track

Chicago Blackhawks590403 Blackhawks at Ducks590404 Blackhawks' Carcillo unhappy with his play590405 Seabrook still a maybe for Blackhawks590406 As John Scotts minutes grow, so does his mojo590407 Blackhawks game day590408 Hawks look to build on 'moral' victory

Colorado Avalanche590409 Lack of offense weighs heavily on Avs

Columbus Blue Jackets590410 Blue Jackets notebook: Shootout losses leave points on

table590411 Michael Arace commentary: Jackets' Prospal proved his

worth, and somewhere a GM has some shoes to eat

Dallas Stars590412 Brenden Morrow will probably miss next three games590413 Shots on goal don't tell Stars' whole story590414 Stars analyst on what fans are missing if they're not

watching Dallas' hockey team590415 Stars-Maple Leafs preview

Detroit Red Wings590416 Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins take win streaks into

today's matinee590417 Daily list: What we're thankful for590418 What to watch today: Red Wings vs. Bruins590419 Black Friday matinee is a big game to Red Wings590420 Red Wings look to snap Bruins' 10-game streak; Johan

Franzen productive in wins, not losses590421 Red Wings allow expectant dad Fabian Brunnstrom to stay

home while team heads to Boston590422 Hectic schedule won't keep some Red Wings from enjoying

Thanksgiving590430 WINGS NOTEBOOK: Bruins will be tough challenge

Edmonton Oilers590423 Oilers pleasantly surprised by Smyth, Nugent-Hopkins590424 Dynamic Whitney returns to Oilers lineup590425 Wild bunch leader of the pack

590426 Ryan Whitneys Baaacckk590427 Oilers aim for Minny break590428 Size no issue with Oilers' RNH590429 Oilers' Whitney on second comeback

Florida Panthers590431 Florida Panthers want goal opportunities for more players590432 Panthers Look For Scoring from Other Places ... Tomas

Fleischmann Seems OK ... Downtown Jason GarrisonBombing

590433 Surging Panthers seek to extend winning streak to four

Minnesota Wild590434 Wild, Oilers enjoying success with youth on their side590435 Wild-Edmonton game preview590436 Backstrom practicing today, could start vs. Oilers590437 Wild keeps winning: "Let Sidney Crosby do his thing, and

well do ours590438 Wild's young defensemen key to team's success

Montreal Canadiens590439 Montreal Canadiens: Scott Gomez out with groin injury590440 Montreal Canadiens: Some parallels between Travis Moen

and Maurice Richard590441 An honor and anniversary for Scotty590442 Canadiens get early wake-up call590443 Hurricanes' Skinner still learning

Nashville Predators590444 Former Predators assistant Brent Peterson picks surgery to

fight Parkinson's

New Jersey Devils590445

Devils' Martin Brodeur puts rough start in his rearview mirror

590446 Devils send forward Nick Palmieri to Albany590447 Devs, Isles off on opposite paths

New York Islanders590448 Devs, Isles off on opposite paths590449 Islanders lose to Flyers in OT590450 Islanders put struggling Comeau on waivers

New York Rangers590451 NY Rangers' Andre Deveaux likely to be suspended for

illegal check to head590452 Team play Rangers Rx for skid590453 Rangers at Capitals590454 Blueshirts look to end slide590455 Rangers look to snap two-game skid

NHL590456 Minnesota Wild calls on 51-year-old beer league goalieOttawa Senators

590457 Hockey players must chose between fighting, quality of life:researcher

590458 Scanlan: Sens Cyborg shy on Calder chatter590459 Woes continue for Scott Gomez590460 No easy matchups for Senators rookie against Penguins590461 Senators practice update: Neil skating again, Anderson

starts against Pittsburgh590462 Senators take a noisy break from routine590463 Sens hope to roar back into action590464 How do Senators stop Sid the Kid?


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Philadelphia Flyers590465 Giving thanks for Flyers' blessings590466 Flyers likely to be without Pronger again vs. Canadiens590467 HBO's 24/7 Winter Classic preview tomorrow590468 Jagr likely to miss Flyers' next two games590469 Jagr likely out for the weekend590470 Flyers earn good first-quarter grades590471 Briere comes alive as Flyers beat Islanders in overtime590472 Around the Web: Giroux atop MVP race590473 Flyers' best and worst of the week590474 Evaluating the Flyers at the quarter mark

Phoenix Coyotes590475 Coyotes' Boyd Gordon takes small-town values with him

Pittsburgh Penguins590476 Stubborn penalty-killing unit lifts Penguins590477 Penguins are tired of playing catch-up lately590478 Dupuis not just riding shotgun

St Louis Blues590479 Shattenkirk, Jackman a strong pairing for Blues' defense590480 Blues-Flames preview box590481 Pietrangelo strikes in overtime

Tampa Bay Lightning590482 Weekend series could be pivotal for Bolts590483 With long road stretch beginning, Tampa Bay Lightning

power play in focus

Toronto Maple Leafs590484 Stars fear Leafs speed590485 Leafs take in Cowboys game590486 Leafs Lupul one of NHLs early success stories590487 Whos the second-best player in the NHL?590488 Can Leafs start printing playoff tickets? Recent history says,

Yes590489 Maple Leafs stuff themselves on Americana590490 Cautious Wilson pegs Reimers return at 10 days590492 Leafs winners, not fighters590493 Leafs Locker: Kessel No. 1, still590494 Reimer leaps into action

Vancouver Canucks590495 Canucks' Schneider shuts out Avs590496 Turris may have signed a contract, but his future is far from

clear590497 Vigneault and Canucks learned how to win together590498 Meet The Provinces new hockey bloggers590499 Once the toughest ticket in town, Colorado Avalanche have

trouble filling $15 seats590500 Turris has no regrets over demanding trade, holding out

until deal signed590501 Amid gloom of a sorry stretch for the Avalanche, theres a

silver lining in OBriens play

Washington Capitals590502 Capitals still stressing accountability, but have the stars

accepted it?590503 Cody Eakin practices, says hes okay after hit from

Winnipegs Zach Bogosian590504 Jason Chimera is the Capitals leading goal-scorer through

20 games590505 Alexander Semin: Im just happy that I didnt pick up a

penalty

590506 NHL rules no supplemental discipline for Zach Bogosianselbow on Cody Eakin590507 Capitals Jason Chimera enjoying early-season scoring

prowess590508 Caps Brooks Laich ready, willing and able590509 NHL hopes to make 'Black Friday' telecast a tradition590510 Knuble's having little luck

Websites590519 NBCSports.com / Sidney Crosby selling his house was

almost a salary cap issue590520 NBCSports.com / It might be time to blow up the Avalanche590521 NBCSports.com / Jagrs wonky groin to cost him two more

games at least590522 NBCSports.com / David Perron would love to follow Sidney

Crosbys example to the fullest590523 NBCSports.com / Jimmy Howard on Tim Thomas: He just

continues to amaze590524 NBCSports.com / Gronkowski agrees to spike puck at AHL

game590525 NBCSports.com / Yzerman on Lightning: Were not as deep

as we were last year590526 NBCSports.com / Anaheim defenseman says Ducks are

scared of winning590527 NBCSports.com / Happy Thanksgiving: Isles put Comeau on

waivers590528 Sportsnet.ca / New Sheriff in town590529 Sportsnet.ca / Seizing the moment590530 YAHOO SPORTS / Crosby makes a good Penguins team

truly great

Winnipeg Jets590511 Verdict delivered on Bogosian hit against Eakin590512

Bogosian meets with Shanahan after head-hit on Eakin

590513 Jets Report590514 Burmistrov needs 'coaching'590515 Bogosian dodges iron fist of Shanahan590516 Bouncing back from the blows590517 Benched Burmistrov vows to get back on track, points590518 Bogosian avoids suspension for head shot

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129590386 Anaheim Ducks

Up next for Ducks: Friday vs. Chicago

Anaheim will try to break a five-game losing streak when it faces theBlackhawks at Honda Center.

November 25, 2011

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Honda Center.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 830

Records: Ducks 6-11-4; Blackhawks 12-7-3.

Update: Bobby Ryan did not skate Thursday because of a bruised hip, theDucks said. The expectation was that he would be able to play someagainst Chicago, though he sat out the third period against the PhoenixCoyotes on Wednesday night because of the injury. Anaheim has lost fivegames in a row and 14 of its last 16. The five consecutive losses coincide


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with the injury that knocked defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky out of thelineup. Visnovsky broke a finger on his right hand against Vancouver onNov. 11. Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook, who has sat out the lastfour games because of a lower-body injury, did not practice Thursday inAnaheim and will be a game-time decision. The Blackhawks have lost theirlast three games.

Lisa Dillman

LA Times: LOADED: 11.25.2011

590387 Anaheim Ducks

Bobby Ryan misses practice, should be back Friday

By JEFF MILLER

2011-11-24 19:24:09

ANAHEIM Forward Bobby Ryan didn't practice with the team Thursdaybecause of his hip contusion, but the Ducks are optimistic about hischances of contributing Friday.

"We felt it was best for him to not skate today ... and we'll see how he looks

for tomorrow," Coach Randy Carlyle said Thursday. "In all probability, wethink he should be able to make a contribution (vs. Chicago)."

The Ducks host the Blackhawks at 1 p.m. at Honda Center.

Ryan was injured Wednesday in a 4-2 loss at Phoenix. He left the game forgood late in the second period, with the Ducks trailing, 2-1.

As Ryan exited the ice, defenseman Francois Beauchemin also wascoming off for a change. The result was a Phoenix goal.

"Him leaving the ice surface and Beauchemin leaving the ice surface wasthe cause for the (Radim) Vrbata breakaway," Carlyle said. "Both guysvacated that side of the ice."

Vrbata's goal, his second of the game, came at 17:31 of the second period.

LOSING COOL

The Ducks remain a frustrated group, that word coming up often after

Thursday's practice at Honda Center.

At the end of the loss in Phoenix, both Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selannereceived unsportsman-like conduct penalties. Selanne, though, attemptedto bring some perspective to things about 15 hours later.

"You know, nobody died," he said. "We still have to realize how lucky weare. We have to use the passion and fun to (fix) this problem right now.There's no other way. You can't just cry and cry and cry. You just have tofind a way to do this together."

The Ducks have lost five in a row and have only two victories in their past16 games. They are 14th in the Western Conference and already eightpoints out of the top eight.

"This is a very fragile team right now," Selanne said. "When anythingnegative happens, it's harder to face the issue. The frustration level is prettyhigh right now."

MORE MEETINGSThe Ducks have held several meetings during their slide. The meetingscontinued Thursday, Carlyle gathering Getzlaf, Ryan and Corey Perry in thelocker room following the workout.

The coach, however, knows the talking only goes so far.

"There's been lots of talk," Carlyle said. "There's been lots of speeches, lotsof meetings. I think it's time for action. Collectively, I think that our grouphas to act out the reality of going out and competing to a higher level."

Orange County Register: LOADED: 11.25.2011

590388 Boston Bruins

Bruins' streak sends the mind racing

By Kevin Paul Dupont

The Bruins are Causeway Street fightin men, and they will never loseagain.

Thats how it looks this morning, with the 10-wins-in-a-row Stanley Cup

champions poised to take on the Red Wings in an NBC matinee today atthe Garden.

Asked to answer the bell Wednesday night in Buffalo, where the Sabresattempted to win back some of their dignity, the Bruins knuckled down acouple of Buffalos braver souls (Paul Gaustad, Robyn Regehr), then scaledtheir way back from a 2-0 deficit to put another 2 points in the win column,via a shootout.

The Bruins havent lost since Eddie Shore was strapping whale bones tothe bottom of his work boots, and they are the hottest team in the NHL, thefirst defending Cup champions to click off 10 in a row since the Devilsrattled off 13 straight wins during the 2000-01 season.

Its all impressive in and of itself, but all the more when considering thestumblebum, sleepy-headed, job-entitled way in which the Black-and-Goldbegan the season.

For those with short memories here in these fast-paced Twitter-and-blog

times, they were 3-7-0 in October, looking far more like the NHL team thatmoved from Atlanta to Winnipeg over the summer than the one that in Junemoved past the burdensome legacy of its Big, Bad Bruins heritage.

We kind of kissed away that first month, coach Claude Julien notedWednesday night after his squad scribbled SWAK on the 2 points at theFirst Niagara Center.

Is this a better team than the one that won the franchises sixth Cup inJune? The 10 in a row would say so, but its worth remembering that theglare and intensity of November hockey are daguerreotype versions ofthose that shine like no other in April, May, and June.

As heightened as senses were in Buffalo, where the Sabres needed tomake right for their apathy after a Milan Lucic hit on star goalie Ryan Miller11 days earlier, it still wasnt playoff hockey.

Oh, and is there a bigger dud in sports than settling an intense, hard-fought65-minute barn-burner with a shootout skills competition? There is a lot of

good in the New NHL, but the shootout remains a poor excuse for gettingoff the dial well ahead of the 11 p.m. nightly news.

Shootouts are to a good hockey game what those paltry pineapple chunks,stuck with a toothpick, are to the dessert menu of a gourmet restaurant.Really, a bottle of fine wine, escargot, a cut of melt-in-your-mouth filetmignon and . . . a cube of Doles Hawaiian De-Lite? Come on.

But I digress.

From a Boston perspective, Benoit Pouliots shootout game-winner, awrister over Jhonas Enroths left shoulder, certainly wasnt all thatdistasteful. I guess. Every win has its beauty, as we heard myriad NHLcoaches preach during hockeys Dead Puck Era, the decade or so leadingup to the 2004-05 lockout.

Still, there has to be a better way to settle the W-and-L thing, an issue theNHL has struggled with since its inception. Personally, as I have stated foryears, I would make it strictly a W-L sport that ends in 60 minutes during the

regular season. No overtime. No shootouts. And if it is tied after 60? Thenboth teams go home with nothing.

Sure, a big ol zero sounds harsh in these everyone-gets-a-trophy times. Iteven sounded harsh to NHL team owners at the turn of the 20th century.But imagine how the teams would play in the closing minutes of a tied orone-goal game.

Seems to me wed really have a hockey game, and not a staged breakawaycontest.

I bring this up, in part, because the NHL held 13 games on Wednesdaynight and seven went to overtime, with three of those reaching the shootoutTen of the 13 games were settled by a single goal. The biggest spread ofthe night came in Colorado, where the Avalanche lost yet again, 3-0, to theCanucks.


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When it comes to parity, the NHL is perfection. The separation between theclubs is less than the space betweenthesewords. But I contend that somany close games are due, in part, to the seduction of overtime. Its alwaysout there, safe harbor, the 3-point temptress, where even a loss isnt reallya loss. They are a coachs institutional binky.

Can I prove this? Of course not. If I could, I wouldnt be going to this lengthto convince you, dear readers, or trying to wake up the misguided Lords ofthe Boards. Ive simply seen enough now to believe the game would havemore pulse and meaning if you removed the everyone-gets-a-trophyconcept.

The idea of doing more with 60 minutes gets me far more excited thanfiguring out how to spice up five minutes of OT or, worse, selling me aphony-baloney skills competition.

I know, I know, the Bruins have won 10 in a row and the Red Wings, anOriginal Six band of brothers, are here today on Causeway Street. If youare reading this, you are most likely a dyed-in-the-woolen-sock Black-and-Gold fan who simply wants to know if emerging wunderkind Tyler Seguin(eight goals in this 10-game streak) is going to blow the feathers off thatWinged Wheel logo this afternoon and whether the Bruins will keep onwinning like its the spring of 2011.

I dont have those answers, either, but I do know Seguin is turning into oneof the games best takes, the release of his shot nearly as fast and deadlyas his legs. Im not sure the Bruins ever have had his likes in the lineup.

Game time, 1 p.m. Enjoy the show. Heres hoping it doesnt come with apineapple.

Boston Globe LOADED: 11.25.2011


NBC carves out a piece of holiday with NHL

By Chad Finn

His collection of 15 Emmy Awards stands as evidence of Sam Floodsextraordinarily successful career producing sports on television, a run thatincludes the 2002 and 2006 Olympic closing ceremonies, all of NBCsWinter Classic NHL games, and the networks Football Night in Americastudio show.

So perhaps it should come as little surprise that Flood, currently executiveproducer of NBC Sports and Versus, also has a knack for promotion. Butits nonetheless impressive that the Dedham native and former WilliamsCollege hockey captain was as on-target as a Tyler Seguin slapshot whendiscussing the appeal of this afternoons Bruins-Red Wings matchup onNBC.

The Bruins are one of the major reasons this game exists, said Flood,referring to the teams tradition of playing a matinee game the day afterThanksgiving, which began in 1990. We want to make it a nationaltradition, too, because it really is a wonderful way to showcase the NHL.

Its our way of getting people to take a break from their shopping, to enjoya malt beverage or two, and watch a matchup of Original Six teams. Whowouldnt enjoy that?

No argument here. And, for once, none from Mike Milbury. The outspokenformer Bruins player and coach will be at his usual post alongside LiamMcHugh as the studio analyst on todays telecast. The superb trio of DocEmrick, Ed Olczyk, and Pierre McGuire will handle the call of the game.

Milbury, who has as much familiarity with Boston hockey lore as just aboutanyone, appreciates NBC trying to make the post-Thanksgiving matinee aleaguewide tradition.

Oh, yeah, I like it, said Milbury. Football, the NFL, owns Thanksgiving,and I dont know why we cant own the next day. You have sort of a captiveaudience on that Friday. The kids are home from college, the crowds tendto be younger and lively, so the Friday game can be a really festiveatmosphere.

Plus, he adds with a laugh, I live just 20 minutes away [from theGarden].

While todays telecast doesnt require the long-term preparation or bring theproduction challenges of the New Years Day Winter Classic, its not justanother regular-season game.

It is clear that NBC wants to claim the day after Thanksgiving for the NHL.There will be bells and whistles, including a microphone on one of thosewho will be blowing the whistle. Referee Kelly Sutherland will be miked up,the first time a regular-season game on NBC will feature on-ice audio.

Seguin, Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, and Red Wings defenseman NicklasLidstrom will be given the feature treatment during pregame andintermissions.

NBC has promoted the game nearly to the extent it does the Winter ClassicOne clever spot running during Sunday Night Football the past few weeksfeatures a wife who roots for the Bruins duping her husband, a Red Wingsfan, into thinking shes going shopping, only to go to the game. The jig is upwhen her husband spots her in the crowd while watching the game on TV.

Good thing its not Bruins-Canadiens, joked Flood, proving once againthat he gets it. Because the promo wouldnt have worked. Growing up inMassachusetts, you learn Bruins fans dont marry Canadiens fans prettyearly.

After Watney, what?

Based on an unscientific tally of reader e-mail and social mediacorrespondence, the reaction to last weeks news that Red Sox reporter

Heidi Watney and NESN were parting ways was sharply divided amonggender lines.

The consensus among men: Say it aint so, Heidi!

Women were quicker to suggest that baseball knowledge was not primaryamong the reasons Watney, a onetime Miss California runner-up, was hiredby NESN in May 2008.

Such a divide probably does not qualify as breaking news, but it is relevantin regard to the search for her replacement. Based on information gatheredfrom multiple sources with knowledge of NESNs interview process, thenetwork is trying to find a replacement with appeal similar to Watneys.

It would be a major upset if the network hired a male reporter in the mold ofTom Caron, Eric Frede, or Dan Roche, all of whom served very capably asRed Sox in-game reporters at one time or another.

NESN has at least three qualified female candidates under consideration,

and all have some background in sports broadcasting. The front-runner isbelieved to be Molly Sullivan, a Las Vegas native and graduate of theUniversity of North Carolina, where she was an Atlantic Coast Conferencechampion swimmer.

Sullivan has covered mostly college basketball and football for theMountainWest Sports Network the past five years, and has been a coloranalyst on the Big Ten networks swimming coverage.

Another candidate might be familiar to Boston viewers. Erin Hawksworthworked as a news reporter at Channel 25 from 2008-10 before theVancouver native returned to the Pacific Northwest as a sports anchor andreporter for the Fox affiliate in Seattle. Shes no baseball rookie; her brotherBlake is a relief pitcher for the Dodgers.

Also in the mix is Mansfield native Jen Royle. She has a strong baseballbackground and is particularly plugged into the American League East,having covered the Yankees (for the YES Network from 2003-06) andOrioles (for MASN in 2010).

At the moment, she is not considered as likely to be hired as Sullivan orHawksworth, but she might be the candidate who appeals to the widestrange of demographics among NESN viewers.



Red Wings thumbnails


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Staff Report

When, where: Today, 1 p.m., TD Garden.

TV, radio: Ch. 7, WBZ-FM (98.5).

Goals: Johan Franzen 10, Nicklas Lidstrom 6, Niklas Kronwall 6.

Assists: Pavel Datsyuk 13, Valtteri Filppula 11, Franzen 11.

Goaltending: Jimmy Howard (11-5-1, 1.92 GAA), Ty Conklin (1-2-0, 3.33).

Head to head: This is the only meeting this season.

Miscellany: Lidstrom played his 1,514th game Wednesday, which ties himwith Steve Yzerman for 13th all-time and third in team history . . . Datsyukhas three goals and four assists in his last three games.



Bruins stick to plan

By Stephen Harris

Just under four weeks ago, a sense of panic was growing among Bruinsfans and, even, in some corners of the front office. There were calls fordrastic solutions as the Stanley Cup champions stumbled out of the gate 3-7-0.

But as some were ready to blow up a championship team, general managerPeter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien (among others) were taking a morerational approach. They envisioned a plan by which the Bs would get backon track before it was too late.

As plans go, not many work out this well.

When we were 3-7, we kind of mapped out where we wanted to be by thiscoming weekend, Chiarelli said on Wednesday. Weve exceeded that. Ididnt expect us to do what weve done.

Who in their right mind could have? All the Bruins have done since then iswin 10 consecutive games, their longest streak in nearly three years. It has

been a remarkable showing thats lifted the team from last place to third inthe Eastern Conference.

The emotional and intense 4-3 shootout win Wednesday night over thefired-up Sabres in Buffalo capped a 3-0-0 trip and earned the playersThanksgiving Day off, even with the strong Detroit Red Wings visiting theGarden this afternoon for a much-hyped national TV showdown.

I think now were comfortable with where we are, Chiarelli said, in a bit ofan understatement. Its still a real tight conference, and we have a lot ofhard work ahead of us, but were in a decent spot now.

The victory in Buffalo was among the finest this season, as the Bs battledback from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 victimized, they felt, by somequestionable penalty calls that led to two early power-play scores by theSabres. The arena was an emotional cauldron as the locals thirsted forrevenge against Milan Lucic for his Nov.?12 hit that injured star Buffalogoalie Ryan Miller at the Garden.

The Buffalo folks got some satisfaction 1:23 into the game when PaulGaustad dropped the gloves with Lucic. It didnt seem to matter to them thatGaustad got his butt kicked. Anyhow, the refs appeared to get caught up inthe emotion, whistling some strange penalties. And the Sabres cashed intwo PPG.

Then the Bruins retreated to the visitors locker room, took a deep breathand came back to outplay the hosts the rest of the way.

We know how to win, Gregory Campbell said. This is an experiencedgroup. We settled down and got back to our game. When youre down 2-0,youve got to take it one goal at a time, one shift at a time, one period at atime. Thats what we did.

Thats the way the Bruins have approached this entire winning streak methodically, one game at a time and with remarkably little attention orbuzz.

In the past when there have been these long streaks, theres been a lotmore hoopla around the team, Chiarelli said. I actually feel pretty goodabout that. Its not like the guys are riding a real high. Theyre just goingabout their business.

Indeed.

I mean, I like to think a wins a win, Shawn Thornton said. I try not to get

too high or too low, you know?

It did earn the Bs a day off, Thornton was reminded.

Oh yeah, thats true, he said. But now the wifes gonna make me cleanthe house because Ive got all the kids coming over for Thanksgiving. I waskind of hoping wed skate, so I wouldnt have to vacuum.

The only flaw in an otherwise perfect plan.

Boston Herald LOADED: 11.25.2011

590392 Buffalo Sabres

Former No. 1 draft pick gets the call

By John Vogl

The Sabres' top prospect is set to make his NHL debut.

Zack Kassian, Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2009 draft, has beensummoned from Rochester by the injury-plagued Sabres to face Columbustonight.

The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Kassian leads the Amerks with seven goals and14 points in 18 games. He showed his potential last season with Windsor othe Ontario Hockey League, recording 26 goals and 77 points in 56 games.

The need for a forward was obvious Thursday. The Sabres practiced withonly 11 healthy forwards. Left wing Tyler Ennis was well enough to fill outthe fourth line, but he ruled himself out for tonight's game in Columbus.Patrick Kaleta missed practice with the lower-body injury that forced him to

skip Wednesday's game against Boston, and there is no timetable for thereturn of right wing Brad Boyes, who suffered an ankle injury against theBruins.xleg

T.J. Brennan felt bad for his sister. Cortney was set to be the talk of thefamily on Thanksgiving, with the Brennan clan scheduled to come togetherin Rochester for the holiday.

"I didn't want to steal her thunder," Brennan said Thursday. "She called meand was like, 'I got engaged.' I was like, 'I got better news. I got called up.'"

This week's summoning of the defenseman from Rochester altered thefamily's plans, with the Philadelphia- and New Jersey-based groupgathering in Buffalo instead of the Flower City. Not only did they haveBrennan's Sabres debut to discuss, the defenseman upped the ante evenmore when he scored in his first NHL game during the 4-3 shootout loss toBoston.

"Everyone is here," Brennan said after a short holiday practice in First

Niagara Center, "and only my mom, my dad and one of my sisters, Alexis,came [Wednesday] night. It's great to have at least one family member andmy sister here, which was awesome. It doesn't happen too often for yourfirst NHL game, so it's really exciting to share it with them."

Long-term injuries to Tyler Myers and Mike Weber have cementedBrennan's spot in the lineup for at least a week or two, but his goal andsolid play in 13 minutes of ice time have made the 22-year-old feel like hebelongs.

"It was great to score, but I thought I was pretty solid defensively," Brennansaid. "I tried to keep it really simple, just keep the puck out of our net. I thinkwe did a good job there. It was a plus to get a plus with the goal."


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Unbridled celebration followed Brennan's shot. Thomas Vanek yelled andhugged his new teammate, while Brennan's old minor-league defensepartner, Marc-Andre Gragnani, chased down the keepsake puck and then

jumped into Brennan's arms.

"I'm probably the guy that knows him the most here," Gragnani said. "Iknow how hard he's been working to get here. I know how much it means tohim playing here. I know exactly what he's going through. I was there notlong ago, so yeah, I was absolutely pumped for him."

Brennan became the first Buffalo defenseman to score in his NHL debutsince Lindy Ruff did it against Washington on Oct. 11, 1979.

"I should've kept him off the ice, and I would've had that record to myself,"Ruff said. "It's a great thrill to get your first NHL goal, and I was happy forhim. He's battled hard to get to this point. Your draft picks, you work withthem, you develop them, you like to see them play. You like to see them berewarded."

The good news on the injury front came with the return of Jochen Hecht.The center skated in the middle of left wing Thomas Vanek and right wingJason Pominville in his first game of the season. He had four shots and twohits in 18:15 of ice time.

"Jochen, for the first game back, gave us one heck of a game," Ruff said."Jochen can skate and defend as good as anybody."

Buffalo News LOADED: 11.25.2011


Highs and lows define Sabres

By John Vogl

The first quarter of the Sabres' schedule is over. If the next three quartersare anything like it, fans in Buffalo should grab the motion-sickness pills.The roller coaster-like peaks and valleys can certainly churn the stomach.

The Sabres ended their opening 21-game run in the middle of the EasternConference. They enter tonight's game in Columbus in seventh place with25 points and a 12-8-1 record. Along the way, they've won on the road andlost at home. They've won with rookies and lost their franchise goaltender.

They've lost respect and won some back.

Now they've got to compete with a significant chunk of their lineup on thesidelines. Seven players from the opening-night roster are injured, includinggoalie Ryan Miller, defenseman Tyler Myers and forward Tyler Ennis.

"We're really going to have to grind through a session here where we'redown a lot of manpower," coach Lindy Ruff said Thursday after a shortThanksgiving practice session. "Playing against a healthy team last night, afull lineup against six guys out, that effort was worthy of a win [during a 4-3shootout loss to Boston]. We didn't get it. We're disappointed. But I'm justtelling you, we play that way, play that hard, we'll get the W's."

The Sabres have started the year with their share of high points:

Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville have been offensive stars, rankingfifth and seventh, respectively, in NHL scoring.

"They've led this team right away," left wing Nathan Gerbe said. "Watching

Van, the way he's played the beginning of this year has been prettyinspiring. He's been one of the best players in the league, and it reallycarries through the team."

They've been rude guests, spoiling the home team's fun en route to a 7-2record away from Buffalo. The victory total is tied for most in the league.

Their special teams have been impressive, with the team ranking fourth inpenalty killing at 88.3 percent and seventh in power play at 20.5 percent.

Rookies Jhonas Enroth, Marc-Andre Gragnani and Luke Adam haveshined, building on their brief appearances last year.

"There was a lot of buzz entering the year, and I think we managed thatpretty good," Gragnani said of the team as a whole.

The Sabres have also bottomed out so much that the lows have almostovershadowed everything else:

They are just 4-6-1 in Buffalo, the most home losses in the EasternConference.

Miller was lost to a concussion during a collision with Boston's Milan Lucic,and the Sabres' lack of response was an utter disappointment to nearlyeveryone who watches hockey.

Scoring behind Vanek and Pominville has been inconsistent or non-existent, with potent forwards such as Drew Stafford and Ville Leino on

pace for just 15 and eight goals, respectively.

"They need help from secondary scoring," Leino said of Vanek andPominville, who have combined for 49 points while the other 13 forwardshave just 80. "We're relying too much on our first line. Hopefully, we'll getsome help now from other lines, too."

Miller struggled when healthy, with the former Vezina Trophy winner losingstarts to the rookie.

The fact they hold a playoff position despite the significant negatives hasthe Sabres hopeful they can achieve more if things start clicking.

"We've got a decent record for how we've played," Gerbe said. "We haven'tplayed our best, and I guess that's a positive sign. We know we haven'treally played up to our capabilities, but we still are near the top of thestandings for the Eastern Conference.

"If we can be more consistent, we'll be a very good team. I think we'll get

there."

The team has struggled to find chemistry, particularly up front. Now theylack continuity, with forwards Patrick Kaleta, Brad Boyes, Cody McCormickand Ennis joining Miller and defensemen Mike Weber and Myers on theinjury list.

"With a couple new players, obviously it takes time to get used to thosethings," Gragnani said. "Overall, we did pretty good. Now we want to bebetter. You always want to be better than you were."



Kassian apparently gets call from Sabres

John Vogl

The Sabres' top prospect appears set to make his NHL debut.

Zack Kassian, Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2009 draft, has beensummoned from Rochester to play for the injury-plagued Sabres, accordingto the Twitter accounts of Kassian's friends and teammates.

"Congrats to my best friend zack kassian on getting the call up with theBuffalo Sabres!#lighterup!!" wrote Daniel Maggio, a junior player who livesin Kassian's hometown of Windsor, Ont.

Neither the Sabres nor Amerks have announced a transaction.

Kassian leads the Amerks with seven goals and 14 points in 18 games. An

ankle injury to right wing Brad Boyes suffered during Wednesday's 4-3 lossto Boston coupled with a lower-body injury that kept right wing PatrickKaleta out of practice today created the need for a forward.

---John Vogl



Sabres' injuries piling up, Ruff ready to proceed with limited manpower


7/74

John Vogl

Somewhere in Rochester today, one of the Amerks forwards will get atelephone call with his turkey. The Sabres are hurting up front, and they'regoing to need another reinforcement.

Buffalo practiced with only 11 healthy forwards today during a short holidaysession in First Niagara Center, and they'll need to boost that number to 12before they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Tyler Ennis, who is still recovering from Oct. 22 ankle sprain, practiced on aline but said he is not ready to return. Patrick Kaleta (lower body) wasunable to skate again after missing Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss toBoston, so he's out. Brad Boyes got hurt against the Bruins, and he's notexpected back for sometime.

That leaves Amerks forwards Colin Stuart, Zack Kassian and DerekWhitmore among the likely candidates to join the Sabres, who return homeafter the trip to Columbus to host Washington on Saturday.

"Were really going to have to grind through a session here where weredown a lot of manpower," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said today. "Playingagainst a healthy team last night, a full lineup against six guys out, thateffort was worthy of a win. We didnt get it. Were disappointed. But Im justtelling you, we play that way, play that hard, well get the Ws."

The Sabres' lines were: Thomas Vanek-Jochen Hecht-Jason Pominville;Ville Leino-Derek Roy-Drew Stafford; Nathan Gerbe-Paul Gaustad-CoreyTropp; and Ennis-Luke Adam-Matt Ellis.

The sixth healthy defensemen were joined by injured Mike Weber, who canskate with the team but has an upper-body injury that will keep him out forweeks still.

---John Vogl


590396 Calgary Flames

Flame complains penalty call likely only in Detroit

Scott Cruickshank

ST. LOUIS

One day and heaps of deserved criticism later, Curtis Glencross wasstill fussing about the call.

In Wednesdays third period against the home-ice Detroit Red Wings,Glencross had been whistled for a retaliatory chop on Henrik Zetterberg.

The resulting minor gave the Wings a two-man advantage, on which theycapitalized. The hosts added another goal just as Glencross was steppingonto the ice to cap their 5-3 triumph over the Calgary Flames.

Its obvious we were in Detroit because the ref missed the first one onthem and called the second one, said Glencross, who, with AnaheimsCorey Perry and Carolinas Tuomo Ruutu, tops the National HockeyLeague with four slashing minors. If we were playing any other team in theleague, they probably wouldnt have called it.

Flames coach Brent Sutter, however, made it very clear in his post-gameremarks that discipline not officiating was the costly issue.

Its a penalty that I cant take, said Glencross. The biggest thing is, it wasa learning thing not only for myself, but the whole team. Hopefully, welearned a lesson out of it. I learned my lesson. And Im sure the team knowshow I felt.

Given the post-game chatter by Sutter and players alike, youd think theFlames were one of the unruliest mobs in the land, running out of control.

Not the case at all.

In fact, theyve been shorthanded just 72 times. To put that into perspectiveonly five squads Florida, San Jose, Phoenix, Chicago, New YorkIslanders have deployed their penalty-killers less often than the Flames.

Speaking of penalties, Brendan Morrison didnt exactly plead innocence inthe aftermath of his diving infraction.

In the third period, the centreman, embellishing, had been hauled down byDetroit defender Jakub Kindl. Both players were assessed minors.

I think thats the first diving call I ever got, said Morrison. I might havegone down a little easy I cant really argue with it but I didnt think he

was going to call a penalty unless I did. He impeded me, but, whatever, wecant worry about that.

Turkey dinner for the team

The timing worked. And everyone embraced the idea.

So Martha Butler got busy in the kitchen. After all, its not every day that herson is home for dinner and its certainly not every day he brings an entirehockey team home for Thanksgiving.

My mom and dad love having people over and hosting, said Chris Butler,Flames defenceman and native of St. Louis. I think this is the first time Ivebeen home for Thanksgiving since I left for junior hockey. We thought thatsince tons of places are closed (for the holiday), so we might as well haveeveryone over and enjoy a nice team dinner. And its fun for my family tomeet the guys in a casual setting.

But how do you feed a pile of hockey players?

Start with four turkeys, nine kilograms each.

I think itll be enough, with the sides and everything, Butler said afterThursday afternoons practice at the Scottrade Center. Ill doubt well runout of food, knowing my mother. I dont know if well have enough tablespace for the amount of food thats going to be there. Sweet-potatocasserole. Turkey. Cranberries. Green-bean casserole. Rolls. Maybe adessert or two.

C-NOTES: Not participating in practice were four players G MiikkaKiprusoff, D Derek Smith, D Scott Hannan, C Olli Jokinen.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 11.25.2011


Game Day: Calgary at St. Louis

By Scott Cruickshank

Calgary Flames (8-11-1) at St. Louis Blues (11-8-2)

6 p.m., Scottrade Center, The SN 960, Sportsnet West

Flames player to watch

T.J. Brodie Young defender is starting to show his assertive side, rushingthe puck and sparking the offence. Teams best player in Detroit.

The Lines

A. Tanguay M. Backlund J. Iginla

C. Glencross O. Jokinen R. Bourque

P. Byron R. Horak L. Stempniak

T. Kostopoulos B. Morrison T. Jackman

The Pairings

C. Butler J. Bouwmeester

M. Giordano S. Hannan

D. Smith T.J. Brodie


8/74

The Goalies

M. Kiprusoff

H. Karlsson

The Injuries

D Brett Carson (back), D Anton Babchuk (hand), RW David Moss (foot)

Blues player to watch

Coach Ken Hitchcock Some insisted that Davis Payne was sacked too

soon. But the steady hand of Hitchcock has guided Blues to a 5-1-2 record.

The Lines

A. Steen D. Backes T.J. Oshie

C. Stewart P. Berglund M. DAgostini

V. Sobotka J. Arnott J. Langenbrunner

C. Porter S. Nichol R. Reaves

The Pairings

I. Cole A. Pietrangelo

B. Jackman K. Shattenkirk

K. Russell R. Polak

The Goalies

B. Elliott

J. Halak

The Injuries

D Carlo Colaiacovo (hamstring), D Kent Huskins (ankle), RW David Perron(concussion), RW B.J. Crombeen (shoulder), LW Andy McDonald(concussion)



Flames finish last season was misleading: team president


ST. LOUIS The brain trust of the Calgary Flames go together onThursday as the teams early season stumbles continue.

Head coach Brent Sutter, general manager Jay Feaster and team presidentKen King chatted prior to the teams practice at Scottrade Center.

The details of their conversation wont be made public but its worthasking.

Not nearly as romantic or as mystical as you think, says King. Its just areal good chance to get a real good understanding of where everybodysat.

King is asked to describe his role at this moment.

Support, he replies. This is just getting an understanding of where theyreat. It is not telling them what to do or how to do it or why to do it. Theyneed to know that theyre in control and they have support. Thats what Iwas doing there. Thats what I would do on the bus. Thats what I would doon the plane.

King, in a carefully worded 30-minute interview, touches on a number ofissues including his underperforming Flames, who, at 8-11-1 are well offthe playoff pace.

I think thats obvious to everybody, including the people that are on thatteam, says King. Thats not part of the plan, thats not part of the program,right? Were not giving up on that. But you cant put lipstick on anything untilyou have consistent results.

King does admit that last seasons brisk trot through the middle stages 22-6-6 in one stretch may have been misleading, may have led tounrealistic expectations.

I think we were all teased a little bit from Dec. 28 onward, he says of thesterling record following Darryl Sutters dismissal a general manager. Ithink we thought we were further advanced than we actually were. Maybewe should have been smarter. Maybe we should have been able to see thathat wasnt quite as firm as we thought it was. Nevertheless, so be it.

The owners, according to King, are prepared to tolerate the ups and downsof the sports business.

These are very mature, seasoned, veteran business people, whounderstand the world, right? he says. Theyre not sycophants who aretrying to chase a dream for the sake of a dream. Theyre pragmatists . . .and I think thats a great benefit. I dont think anybody can do much in anenvironment of fear or panic. But make no mistake, the sense of urgencythat is necessary and appropriate is a fact of life, too.

Some observers do wonder how a poorly faring squad can command a newarena or even generate enough interest to need one.

King insists that the two issues on-ice success, rink raising are notrelated.

The building, were talking about several hundred million dollars and yearsof preparation says King. You cant take a daily event (such as a hockeyteams fortunes) and correlate that to a five- or six-year program to build anew building. A new building is a 30-year concept, right? Long before

anybodys cutting ribbons or digging holes in the ground, there will be a lotmore known about the success of the team . . . than we know now.

With the Flames floundering, King goes out of his way to emphasize thatthe organization is more than just 20 chaps on the ice 82 times a season.

The team is going to great lengths to shore up things from top to bottom.

It sounds like a bunch of window dressing, he says. (But) in a paralleluniverse, works being done all over the world Craig Conroy and JohnWeisbrod in Europe . . . Jay leaving to go to Kalamazoo (Michigan) to lookat prospects. With emphasis on the college ranks, with emphasis onEurope, this is the whole notion that, You know what? We got thinner thanwe should have when it came to prospects. Theres only two ways to fixthat one way is through the draft and that takes time, the other is throughhard work and creativity.

Generally speaking, if you look at the broader picture, it is promising. Andthat is always against the backdrop of the last good act or the last bad act.

Thats just the business were in and we understand that.Calgary Herald: LOADED: 11.25.2011


Flames' Stempniak has fond memories of Blues


ST. LOUIS Ivy League graduate and pro-hockey rookie, Lee Stempniaktried to process this information.

Yes, the St. Louis Blues were telling him to find permanent lodging for thewinter.

But not in St. Louis.

Instead, Stempniaks bosses ordered him to get a place in Peoria, Illinois.,home of their American Hockey League affiliate.

Not what any rookie wants to hear.

But the news was hardly devastating mainly because Stempniak didntknow any better.

The good thing I didnt read too much into it, said the Calgary Flamesright-winger, chuckling. I went down and said, Oh, this is what happens.

Truth of the matter is that hed already made an impression.


9/74

Drafted out of Dartmouth College as a 20-year-old, following hissophomore season, in the fifth round Stempniak was little known. Butupon graduation and in his first stab at Blues tryouts, 2005, he hung tough.

Played pretty well. Came out of nowhere that training camp, says the 28-year-old. I think I caught the coaches eyes. There was no rookie camp andI just jumped in. That was probably good for me, not much time to think.

And, thanks to injuries, he saw NHL action immediately season-openeragainst Detroit.

I started against Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom, says Stempniak.

And I was like, Oh, this is really fast.

Stempniak got into a handful of games before the inevitable demotion,which kicked off a hectic season.

This was the roller-coaster for the West Seneca, New York, native: Downfor three weeks, up for two months, then back down for three weeks. Up tillthe Olympic break, then down for the Olympic break. Up for the rest of theyear, then back down for the playoffs.

But with 27 points in 57 appearances in St. Louis, another 15 points in 26appearances in Peoria, Stempniak proved his offensive worth.

Prior to the second season, Mike Kitchen called him into the coachs office.There, they went over the depth charts. It was hard for Stempniak not tonotice where hed been pencilled in.

He said, Youre going to play on the first line with Pete Cajanek and KeithTkachuk. Youre definitely not staying there, but youve earned it. Just take

advantage of it, says Stempniak. That was a moment when they sawsome promise and potential. I got off to a pretty good start . . . and sort ofrolled from there.

Rolled, in fact, all the way to 27 goals. With nary a whiff of Peoria.

Thats a pretty special mark to hit as a player, Stempniak says of the 20-goal plateau. I kept the puck from that. I look back on that and cherish thememory. I really enjoyed my time there. My first team in the NHL.Everything was new, everything was exciting.

Youre just living out a dream every day.

In St. Louis, prior to the November 2008 trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs,he made lasting friendships Thursday, for instance, he enjoyedThanksgiving dinner with Tkachuk and his family and heard words to liveby.

Mike Kitchen always said, Youve got to be in the league for three years

before youre an NHL player, says Stempniak. Thats something thatreally stuck with me. I dont know if its true, but its something that rung truein my ears. It definitely motivated me to keep playing well, keep establishingmyself.

In 2009-10, a season split between the Leafs and the Phoenix Coyotes, hepoured in 28 goals, 14 in the final 18 dates.

Last winter, he potted 19.

I think its easy to play one year and have some success and be like, Ahman, Im in the NHL, says Stempniak. Theres a lot of guys that play and play well and dont sustain it. If you want to make a career of it,youve got to really stick with it and solidify yourself as an NHL player.

Its hard to be a young guy in the NHL its hard to be in the NHL,period.



Flames rebuilding ... slowly

By Steve MacFarlane

Dont fool yourselves into thinking the Calgary Flames arent rebuilding.

Its happening.

Not all of it is above the surface, and it doesnt mean a blockbuster trade isimminent. But make no mistake, the men running the Flames hockey clubare not sitting idly by.

Most people define rebuilding by losing frequently for years in order to gethigh draft picks. You will then get them and you will live happily ever after,team president Ken King said Thursday during a nearly half hour chat at theScottrade Center as the Flames got set to practice. Youre alwaysrebuilding.

Weve done transactions. Jays talked about Meritocracy I think itspretty clear thats there hes talked about giving young people a chance

I think its pretty clear thats been done.

I think you will continue to see activity and transactions take place which inaggregate will be an improvement to the team.

Were not naive. Were not saying were going to stand pat and see whathappens. It is forever a work in progress every team is.

So far the Flames have been a disappointment. Part of the reason for thatis the way they played during the last half of the year.

Fans, coaches and management believed that was a sign of things tocome. They havent yet been able to recapture that magic.

I think we were all teased a little bit from Dec. 28 onward. I think we maybethought we were further advanced than we actually were, admitted King.Maybe we should have been smarter, maybe we should have been able tosee that wasnt quite as firm as we thought it was, but nevertheless, so beit.

So while young guys like Paul Byron, T.J. Brodie and Roman Horak aregetting their opportunities to help on the ice at the moment, more efforts aretaking place all over the globe to re-stock the cupboards. They have eyes(Craig Conroys currently) in Europe. Feaster just returned from KalamazooTheyre putting an emphasis on scouting overseas and the college ranks.

We got thinner than we should have when it came to prospects. There aretwo ways to fix that. One is though the draft, which takes time. The other isthrough hard work and some creativity, King said. Theres a vast amountof work going on on a parallel basis. And that doesnt matter to a lot ofpeople. But I think everybody understands it takes a while for a newphilosophy, a new approach, a new plan, to do it. And when youre doing iton the fly ... they are doing, in my view, a superb job of ensuring that ournear future and our longer term future has a greater likelihood of successthan not.

Organizationally, were pretty happy about that.

It sounds like a bunch of window dressing when you talk, so we dont liketo talk about that much.

He talked at length Thursday, upon request.

And while some may not agree with him or the ownership group, they feelthe broader picture of the club is promising. Of course, they all realize thatbig picture is always against the backdrop of the last game or last periodplayed.

There havent been many great ones this year.

Thats obvious to everyone, including the people that are on that team.Thats not part of the plan. Thats not part of the program, said King. Itsgetting closer to a (tipping point).

But King also mentioned the coach and GM are not giving up on that short-term mission of making the playoffs. The three of them had a longconversation on the visitors bench Thursday, with Sutter doing much of the

talking.

Expect those three to remain in charge of this team as they give the planpresented when they put Feaster in control last December time to come tofruition. Continuity wasnt always important in the organizations eyes four coaches have been employed since the lockout but it is key at themoment.

There are also times when you need to stay the course when all othersmaybe think differently, said King. In terms of organizationaldetermination, to get this right, thats kind of where were at.

We will persevere and well see where it gets to. All I want is for thosepeople to have the kind of success they deserve given the hard work thatthey put into it, and the team. And the fans to enjoy the benefit of that.


10/74

The sooner that happens, the better for everybody.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.25.2011


Flames winger late Blue-mer

By Steve MacFarlane

Lee Stempniak was a late discovery.

The Ivy League student was already 20 when his name was called in thefifth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He wasnt there, of course. And hedidnt skip out on school early, either, graduating from Dartmouth with aneconomics degree.

Impressing as a 22-year-old hopeful in his first St. Louis Blues camp, thetiming of the wingers arrival was pretty much perfect for a team intransition.

He stuck around late in camp, adapting as the game got quicker.

It worked out really well. It happened to be a year they lost a lot of playerslike (Pavol) Demitra and (Chris) Pronger and there were some spots foryounger guys, said Stempniak, who is now part of a rebuilding Calgary

Flames team.I was able to grab one and play 55 or 60 games.

But the words he heard at the end of his tryout werent the ones a rookiewants to hear as the season is set to kick off.

There were a few of us (freshman). It was me, Jay McClement and DennisWideman. They told those two guys to get a place and

I got sent down, Stempniak recalled with a laugh.

I actually got a place in Peoria when I got sent down. I was in a hotel for along time in St. Louis and had a place in Peoria. It was the opposite for me.

He might have pulled the trigger on the place in Peoria, Ill. where theAmerican League affiliate was located a little too early.

Although he got sent down after training camp, injuries (including KeithTkachuks broken ribs) led to a quick re-call. And Stempniak was already in

the Detroit area while playing for the AHLs Rivermen.

Instead of driving down

I stayed in and played the next day, and played four or five games, he said.Our first game was against Detroit.

I started against Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

His first thoughts after enjoying a promising pre-season?

Yeah, this is really fast, he said. I was probably a little bit overwhelmed, Ithink, early on, the first couple of games.

The two-game visit ended, but he thrived with the Rivermen and earnedanother promotion a few weeks later, sticking around for a couple of monthsthis time.

The points came this time. He scored in his second game back his firstNHL goal and racked up three tallies and seven points in a span of 10

games.

Plenty of optimism helped Stempniak deal with the ups and downs.

I played pretty well and just sort of came out of nowhere in that trainingcamp. I think

I caught the coaches eyes, he said.

Its gratifying to know the hard works paying off.

Seven years and four teams later, the West Seneca, N.Y., product stilllooks back at his start in St. Louis fondly.

He reminisced with former teammate Keith Tkachuk over turkey Thursdaynight, celebrating American Thanksgiving with his former landlord.

He texted me the other day. We missed (each other) last time we were intown. Ive got a really good relation with their family, said Stempniak, wholived with Tkachuk while searching for a house during his third year in theleague.

Its a friendship for life. It was someone that really went out of their way tomake you feel welcome in the NHL when you were a young guy.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 11.25.2011

590402 Carolina Hurricanes

Canes seem to be back on track

By CHIP ALEXANDER - [email protected]

Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice calls them small steps, and smallthey have been.

But necessary steps. And, Maurice and the Canes hope, in the rightdirection.

After losing six of seven games, all in regulation and some by anembarrassing margin, Maurice asked his team to be more disciplined

defensively. The Canes were one of the NHL's worst in goals allowed andshots against, a troubling trend that had Maurice's job in jeopardy and theCanes' season possibly near implosion.

A 2-1-1 record in the past four games is an improvement but not a dramaticturnaround, by any means, and the 4-3 shootout loss Wednesday to theMontreal Canadiens was disappointing. The Hurricanes say four gamesisn't enough to say a team identity -- a gritty, defense-first style -- has beenformed.

"I think we need a few more games to make it really sink in, but I thinkwe've seen how it can be effective," defenseman Bryan Allen saidWednesday.

For the Canes the tipping point was the 4-0 loss in Montreal last week.Maurice said the last 10 minutes of the second period were "the pooresthockey we've ever played," and the coaches huddled on the plane rideback that night to talk things over and prepare for practice the next day.

"It was all sliding downhill and we were neck-deep," Maurice said. "We hadto tilt it."

Allen said not much was said among the players on the plane but mostsensed changes would be coming.

"(Maurice) said that game was almost like rock bottom for us," Allen said."We couldn't keep going the same way.

"It's hard in those situations. As a player you have no idea what's going tohappen. You can be traded, waived, whatever."

At practice the next day, Maurice told the Canes they would seek to createmore offense through better overall team defense. The forecheck would notbe as aggressive, but that would leave forwards in better position to getback defensively, reducing the odd-man rushes that were hurting theHurricanes.

"Regardless of what we were doing, the most important thing was that wecame together and had one idea," Maurice said.

But more offense through defense?

"If I was 17, 18 or 19 and the coach said you play better defense and canget better offense, I would say no, that's not what's going to happen,"forward Jussi Jokinen said. "But I've been around long enough tounderstand that's exactly what happens and that's what we've been able todo. In this league you have to keep the other team to two goals or less towin constantly."

The Hurricanes lost to the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 last Friday, then topped theToronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Sunday and Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 onMonday. After generating just 26, 20 and 25 shots in their previous threegames, the Canes had 34, 41 and 31 shots.


11/74

"I thought it was very smart what (Maurice) did," Allen said. "He took all thepressure off trying to score goals and get offense. There are so many guyswho want to score goals and contribute. What he did was took that focusaway and said let's focus on not allowing any goals. Play good without thepuck, play good in our own end and focus on being good in front of ourgoaltenders."

Goalie Brian Boucher faced just 20 shots against Buffalo and Cam Wardfaced 25 against the Leafs. The Flyers had 32 shots and the Canadiens 34,including three in the overtime.

The Canes jumped to an early 2-0 lead Wednesday with goals from JiriTlusty and Anthony Stewart but at times were too loose defensively.Maurice switched lines and the defensive pairings during the game. He splitup Allen and Tim Gleason, putting Allen with Jamie McBain and Gleasonwith Tomas Kaberle, while sticking with the pairing of Jay Harrison androokie Justin Faulk.

"They have to figure out a way to do it on nights when it's not easy forthem," Maurice said. "It can't just be (that you) throw your hands up andsay, 'Well, we'll play harder defensively the next night.'"

Defenseman Joni Pitkanen, sidelined the past seven games with a footinjury, returned to practice Thursday and could play Sunday in Ottawa,Maurice said.

The Hurricanes (8-11-4) host the Winnipeg Jets (8-9-4) today at the RBCCenter.

News Observer LOADED: 11.25.2011

590403 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks at Ducks

8:28 PM CST, November 24, 2011

TV/radio: 3 p.m. Friday; WGN-Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720.

Series: First meeting.

Last meeting: Hawks won 3-2 in a shootout Oct. 25 at the United Center.

Probable goalies rec gaa

Hawks: Corey Crawford 9-6-2, 2.74

Ducks: Jonas Hiller 5-9-4, 3.01.

Team comparison

Averages per game (NHL rank)

HAWKS (12-7-3) CATEGORY DUCKS (6-11-4)

3.14 (4) Goals for2.00 (29)

3.00 (20)Goals against2.95 (19)

16.5 (16)Power-play pct.14.8 (21)

73.5 (30)Penalty-kill pct.87.1 (6)

Statistics through Thursday.

Storyline: The Hawks are playing the fifth of a six-game trip and the first ofback-to-backs to close out the journey. Marian Hossa leads the Hawks inscoring with nine goals and 14 assists. The Ducks, who have lost threeconsecutive home games, are 1-8-3 overall in their last 12 games. TheHawks haven't had much success in Anaheim, posting a 4-19-2 mark intheir last 25 games there.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 11.25.2011


Blackhawks' Carcillo unhappy with his play

With scoring down, he knows he has to provide energy and physicalpresence

By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter


ANAHEIM, Calif. There wasn't a whole lot of holiday cheer surrounding

the Blackhawks as they spent Thanksgiving mired in a three-game losingstreak.

Winger Daniel Carcillo was subdued as he left the ice following practice, afew hours before the players gathered for a team meal in Los Angeles. Inaddition to the team's woes, Carcillo has been quiet offensively as theHawks have dropped the last three games of their six-game trip thatcontinues Friday afternoon against the Ducks at the Honda Center.

"I'm not happy," Carcillo said. "I haven't been contributing offensively thelast couple of games. It would be nice to help the team and get somescoring from different areas, but it's been a tough stretch."

Carcillo has no points and is a minus-3 during the span, having recordedtwo shots on goal while seeing a drop in playing time. Averaging 12minutes, 18 seconds of ice time per game, Carcillo played 8:48 during a 9-2drubbing by the Oilers on Saturday and 9:49 as the Hawks fell 1-0 to theSharks on Wednesday night.

After a strong start to the season, Carcillo is stuck on two goals and fiveassists while leading the Hawks with 39 penalty minutes. He had beenskating on the second line with Patrick Sharp and center Patrick Kane, butduring Thursday's practice was on the fourth line. Carcillo said if he's notscoring, he needs to provide energy and a physical presence.

"I need to play a certain way to be effective and maybe I've gotten a little bitaway from that, so I'll try and get it back the next two games," said Carcillo,who has 1,025 penalty minutes in 300 career NHL games.

Moral of the story: Despite playing a strong game after losing the twoprevious by a combined 10 goals, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville wouldn'tcall the hard-fought loss to the Sharks a moral victory.

"We're in the winning business," Quenneville said. "You're not going to winevery game, but playing like that, that's what we want. Part of the processof being a good team is playing consistently well. That's as a good as we'veplayed all year maybe defensively. That's positive, so we'll go from there."

Away games: Since his rookie season in 2008-09, Kane has spent everyThanksgiving on the road as the holiday falls during the Hawks' annualcircus trip.

"I've been gone for every road trip and I still get messages from all mybuddies and family back home asking if I'm coming home for Thanskgiving,the Buffalo native said. "It would be nice to do that once but it doesn't looklike it will happen anytime soon."

One-timer: Brent Seabrook missed Thursday's practice and is "possible" toplay against the Ducks, according to Quenneville.

The defenseman hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury Nov. 13when Seabrook lost an edge and slid skates-first into the boards during agame against the Oilers.

"We keep thinking that hopefully we can get him in on this trip," Quennevillesaid.



Seabrook still a maybe for Blackhawks

By Chris Kuc

Tribune reporter



12/74

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Chicago Blackhawks hit the ice for practice inCalifornia prior to gathering for a team meal to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook missed practice and is "possible" to playagainst the Ducks on Friday afternoon in the first of back-to-back games toclose out the Hawks' six-game road trip. The veteran hasn't played sincesuffering a lower-body injury Nov. 13 when he lost an edge and slid skates-first into the boards during a game against the Oilers.

"(Seabrook's) possible for (Friday)," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said

following practice in Anaheim. "I know I said that the last couple of gamesbut we keep thinking that hopefully we can get him in on this trip."

Quenneville added that it will be a gametime decision as to whetherSeabrook, who has missed four consecutive games, returns to the lineup.Meanwhile, Dave Bolland also missed practice but is scheduled to playagainst the Ducks.

Corey Crawford will make his second consecutive start in goal for theHawks.



As John Scotts minutes grow, so does his mojo

By Adam L. Jahns

[email protected]

Last Modified: Nov 25, 2011 02:16AM

ANAHEIM, Calif. John Scott gets all the attention. The giant-sizedenforcer knows he is playing more than he ever has with the Blackhawks.

Considering what I used to play, Scott said.

Coach Joel Quenneville said he wanted to give Scott a chance to -provethat he can handle full-time responsibilities on the blue line and be morethan just a fighter. As a

result, he has played in eight consecutive games, including all four so far onthe -circus trip, and has surpassed 11 minutes in five of them.

Before this stretch, Scott was a healthy scratch in 10 of the first 14 games,averaging barely three minutes. Now its either Sami Lepisto or SeanODonnell who is often the healthy scratch. So this is all new for Scott,especially with the Hawks.

I think Ive been doing OK, said Scott, who is a minus-1 with four shotsand four penalty minutes in the last eight games. Im not making manymistakes. Im starting to feel comfortable. My passes have been prettygood, and my defense has been pretty strong.

The jump in minutes has helped Scotts confidence, and its shows on someshifts. For the most part, he is making simple plays and avoiding badsituations. But he said that its always in the back of the head that youmight get sat out.

Quenneville said Thursday that Scott was all right against the San Jose

Sharks on Wednesday.

From seven [minutes] to 12 to 13 or 14, you really notice a difference,Scott said. If you play five or six minutes, youre really only getting threeshifts a period. Its nice to get a regular shift and get in a groove. You play alot better when youre in the mojo and flow of the game.

General manager Stan Bowman has no problem with Scott as the Hawkssixth defenseman, especially considering that Scott spent substantial timeduring the summer working on his skating and

defensive work.

Joel has been saying awhile, I want to give this guy a chance to see whathe can do,?? Bowman said. Weve always played him in -limited roles inthe past, and [Joel] said, I think he can do more. Lets give it a shot. And a

credit to John, hes played very well. Thats what you hope for. Lets justhope it continues.

Last season, Scott saw ample time at forward. Now, thats not the case. Healso knows Quenneville will play the matchups and put him inadvantageous positions against third or fourth lines.

When I played forward, Id just be looking for hits and fights.

Basically, thats all Im doing, Scott said.

But when you play defense, you have more responsibilities and playing a

steady shift. Im still looking for fights and I cant find any, but I have to bemore responsible.

What does it mean to player when a coach shows faith in you?

It says a lot because it hasnt happened a lot in my career, Scott said. Imusually kind of the bubble guy, where Im in and out and I dont play toomany minutes. Ive been working my [butt] off this year, so its nice to get alittle -recognition and confidence instilled in me from Joel. I just dont wantto let him down.

NOTE: Defenseman Brent Seabrook (leg) sat out practice Thursday inAnaheim, but there is still hope that he will play Friday against the Ducks.

Hes possible for [Friday], coach Joel Quenneville said. I know I said thatthe last couple of games, but we still keep thinking that hopefully well gethim in some time on this trip.

Dave Bolland also sat out practice, but he will play against the Ducks,

Quenneville said. Corey Crawford will get the start in goal.Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 11.25.2011


Blackhawks game day

Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center, 3 p.m.

TV: Channel 9

Radio: WGN 720-AM

What to watch: If the Hawks are going to have a decent road trip, they needthis one. The Ducks have won only twice in their last 14 games (2-8-4) andare reeling. The Hawks have lost three in row and are 1-3 on their trip, butthey were encouraged by Wednesdays 1-0 loss at San Jose when theymostly outplayed the Sharks. Thats the standard for how we want towork, Jonathan Toews said.

Season series: Hawks lead 1-0.

Next: Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center, 9:30 p.m. Saturday

Tim Sassone

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 11.25.2011


Hawks look to build on 'moral' victory

November 24, 2011, 5:17 pm

ANAHEIM, Calif. The Blackhawks got their we-played-better game onWednesday night against the San Jose Sharks. Better, but not quitevictorious.

Thats all fine and good. But as coach Joel Quenneville reiterated onThursday, teams are in the business of winning. And the Blackhawks need


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those Friday in Anaheim and Saturday in Los Angeles to make this tripmore of a success.

The Blackhawks are currently 1-3-0 entering this final weekend of theircircus trip. The moral victory on Wednesday was a boost, considering howbrutal their games were in Calgary and Edmonton. But they neverthelessneed points more.

The recipe for winning is a lot of the things we did last night: the willingnessto check, the willingness to play a strong game, Quenneville said. We getone (goal) last night we get something out of the game. So lets focus onone more game tomorrow and lets be better than we were last night; thingsin our thought process are in the right place, so lets go.

The Blackhawks will start with an Anaheim Ducks team thats probably nottoo happy right now. The Ducks, like the Blackhawks, are riding a three-game losing streak, but their overall month has gone much worse. Theyhave won just one game in November and are 1-6-3 in their last 10 games.

The long road stretch is almost over before the Blackhawks return home,where theyve been very successful this season. But if they capitalize onWednesdays outing, theyll wrap this trip up the way they want.

We played the way we needed to play, Daniel Carcillo said. We had a lotof chances, a couple breakaways and (Antti) Niemi made some good stops.But thats how we have to play: hard in all the puck areas and hard on theforecheck.

Tracey Myers

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 11.25.2011

590409 Colorado Avalanche

Lack of offense weighs heavily on Avs

By Adrian Dater

The Denver Post

Posted: 11/25/2011 01:00:00 AM MST

It is with a heavier sense of responsibility that Milan Hej- duk feels for theAvalanche's latest losing ways. Not that he ever took them well before, butbeing the team captain has imbued a deeper feeling of answerabilityfollowing losses.

It was a grim-faced Hejduk who answered questions following the Avs'latest setback, 3-0 at home to Vancouver on Wednesday night.

"It's very difficult to win hockey games when you're not scoring goals," saidHej- duk, named the Avs' third team captain last week. "It just puts toomuch pressure on the goalies. We have to find a way. But it's veryfrustrating right now. We're in a slump."

Many fans are pointing the fingers at coach Joe Sacco. Players publiclycriticizing a coach is exceedingly rare, but Hejduk answered quickly anddecisively when asked if Avs players aren't being coached well enough.

"No, there are definitely no problems there. It was a bad game, though.We're squeezing the sticks right now. We're all in the same boat coaches, players, everybody," Hej- duk said. "We all want to do well. Butwe're just not doing it right now, and it's frustrating, it definitely is."

Sacco, in the third year of a three-year contract, has tried just about everyline combination possible to get his team going offensively, especially onhome ice. But through the first 11 games at the Pepsi Center, the Avs haveyet to score more than three goals and have been shut out twice.

"I'll continue to tweak things to try and find the right (combinations), but aftera while you can only change so much," Sacco said. "Sooner or later, youhave to go out and you have to do it."

Johnson out.

Defenseman Erik Johnson is sidelined with a groin injury, and his status forSaturday's game with Edmonton is uncertain.

Johnson did not play Wednesday. He tried to skate Wednesday morning,but left the ice after about 15 minutes.

Matt Hunwick, who had played in only one previous game, took Johnson'sspot in the lineup against Vancouver and was singled out by Sacco as oneof the few players who played well.

Sacco also praised goalie Semyon Varlamov, who stopped 26-of-28 shotsand was hung out to dry on one of the two Canucks goals.

"It was good to see him bounce back. He gave us a chance to win," Saccosaid.

Denver Post: LOADED: 11.25.2011

590410 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets notebook: Shootout losses leave points on table

By Shawn Mitchell

Twice in the past eight days, the Blue Jackets played to 1-1 ties in the rinksof tough Eastern Conference opponents.

On each occasion the Blue Jackets lost in a shootout. Afterward, theypatted their backs (road point) and kicked themselves (one point, not two).

Obviously, I have to improve on the shootouts, said goaltender CurtisSanford, who failed to save the two shootout attempts he faced onWednesday in New Jersey.

The Devils won the shootout 2-0 and the game 2-1.

The visiting Blue Jackets tied Boston 1-1 in regulation and overtime on Nov17. But Sanford saved just one of three Bruins shootout attempts and theBlue Jackets took only one point from a 2-1 loss.

Sanford has made four consecutive starts and has been outstanding inregulation.

He is 2-0-2 with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage.

But he is 3-10 with a .475 save percentage in shootouts since beginning hisNHL career in 2002-03. That ranks 74th among active goalies.

Those numbers might be better if the Blue Jackets were more potent at theother end of the ice.

The Blue Jackets, winless in their past four shootouts dating to last season,have converted just 2 of 8 shootout attempts.

Rick Nash (1 of 3) and Mark Letestu (1 of 2) were denied by Devilsgoaltender Martin Brodeur on Wednesday.

I do my homework on everybody, Brodeur said.

Jeff Carter, Vinny Prospal and Antoine Vermette also have failed to score.

The Jackets lost to Colorado in a shootout on Oct.?12 with Steve Mason innet.

The three points theyve lost in shootouts are costly but not worth dwellingover. There is more important work to be done.

Were bringing a consistent game to the rink every night, Sanford said. Ifwe want to be regarded as a solid team, thats what we need to keepdoing.

Stay the course

The Blue Jackets will play host to the Buffalo Sabres tonight.

Buffalos Lindy Ruff the longest tenured coach in the NHL told theOlean (N.Y.) Times Herald that he has shared some words ofencouragement with Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel during the their 5-13-3start.

Arniel was an assistant on Ruffs staff from 2002 to 2006.

Its been a tough start, Ruff said. Theyve had some pretty significantinjuries, too.


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Those are tough times. Those make you better as a coach. Sometimeswhen it goes sideways its hard to get out of. Recently theyve played a lotbetter and they got their personnel back and theyre a better team right nowthan they were a month ago.

The Sabres (12-8-1) beat the Blue Jackets 4-2 on Oct.?27.

The Sabres have since suffered a slew of injuries and are withoutgoaltender Ryan Miller (concussion).

Miller was knocked out of a loss to Boston when he was run over by Bruinsforward Milan Lucic on Nov.?12

Short view

The Blue Jackets won back-to-back games for the first time this seasonwhen they beat Nashville last Saturday and Calgary on Monday.

Big deal, Carter said.

Were happy with the way things are going the last few games, he said.But its only a few games. You try not to get too caught up in it.

The Blue Jackets are playing better lately with Sanford in goal but remain atthe bottom of the Western Conference.

Its just the importance of each game, Arniel said. Some teams can lose agame here and there and continue to stay in the mix. But weve got to wintwo of three. Weve got to win four of five. It just has to be a constant.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.25.2011

590411 Columbus Blue Jackets

Michael Arace commentary: Jackets' Prospal proved his worth, andsomewhere a GM has some shoes to eat

By Michael Arace

Theo Fleury, in his book Playing with Fire, writes that if he were an NHLgeneral manager he would draft Canadian juniors exclusively because theyget it. Although the league is less Canada-centric than it was in theprevious century, Fleurys line of thinking still runs on the edges ofmainstream thought.

Vinny Prospal is the perfect counterargument. Nobody gets it like he gets it.

Tonight, Prospal will play the 1,000th game of his NHL career when theBlue Jackets play host to the Buffalo Sabres. Let us put this in perspective.

More than 7,000 men have played in the league since it was formed in1917. Prospal will be the 268th to play 1,000. He will be the sixth Czech todo it, and that is something, too. Bobby Holik, Roman Hamrlik, JaromirJagr, Radek Dvorak and Petr Svoboda have played 1,000 games. PetrNedved, Martin Straka, Robert Lang and Dominik Hasek have not andnever will.

I am very proud of this accomplishment, Prospal said. I also know youhave to be lucky.

You have to be a lot of things. Prospal is smart, tough, well-respected and exuberant still, at the age of 36. Yesterday, as he sat in the dressingroom after an off-ice workout, he alluded to another trait. What is the word

for it? Resolute fits. Well go with that. Resolute.

Prospal grew up in Ceske Budejovice when it was part of communistCzechoslovakia. Censorship meant he had little idea of the NHL as he wasbeing groomed to play for his local club, as his father did before. Althoughhe was groomed well, there was no room for him on the roster when hecame of age to play in the Czech Extraliga, and his team was moreinterested in the transfer fee being paid by the Philadelphia Flyers than itwas in hanging on to its young prospect.

My agent, Ritch Winter, had a Czech colleague named Jaromir Henys,who passed away from cancer just a couple years ago, Prospal said.Henys helped so many guys. Before he passed, he wrote a book, and inthe book he explained the story with me how the club was happy that Iactually decided to leave. It was because of the transfer fee and, second of

all, the general manager said if I ever played one game in the NHL he wasgoing to eat his shoes.

I do not feel bad about that. I can only thank the people who were runningthe team at the time. I was 18 years old, just drafted, and I basically hadnowhere to play hockey. That sort of situation really shapes you as anindividual. It was a great life lesson.

The situation was akin to dropping a lamb into a lions den. Prospal crossedthe ocean and landed in Hershey, Pa., where the Flyers American HockeyLeague affiliate was located. He had never lived anywhere but under hisparents roof, knew little English and had yet to play in a mens league. Hewas tossed into a circuit riddled with head-hunting opponents waiting at theend of seven-hour bus trips. Prospal stuck it out for three years and morethan 300 games.

It was one of the best things that ever happened to me, he said. Now Ican really appreciate what I have here because I know how hard it is to playdown there. I had nowhere else to go so I stayed. Im just proud aboutthe way that Ive been able to remain with the game. I get to do for a livingwhat I love to do.

On March 5, 1997, Prospal was called up by the Flyers. He centered a linewith John LeClair on the left and Mikael Renberg on the right. He began aprocess of studying the habits of teammates such as Eric Lindros, EricDesjardins, Ron Hextall and Rod BrindAmour especially BrindAmour, aborn leader and consummate teammate.

Prospal has had many stops Ottawa, Florida, Tampa Bay, Anaheim,Tampa Bay again, Philadelphia again, Tampa Bay yet again, New York. He

has had as linemates Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Petr Sykora andMarian Gaborik, and now he has Rick Nash and Jeff Carter. Everyone lovesplaying by his side.

He has been bought out once and written off more than once, most recentlyby the Rangers, who did not know whether his surgically repaired kneecould last. Here he is, helping pull the Jackets out of a horrific funk, leadingthe team in scoring with six goals and 19 points in 21 games. Here he is,with 233 goals, 466 assists and 699 points in 999 games over 14 NHLseasons.

What will he think when he skates out on the ice for No. 1,000 tonight?

How fortunate I am to be here, he said. How many years it has been,because this isnt just about being here right now its about being a littlekid and starting to play. Its a long process to get up to this point. Im prettysure Ill try to take it like any other game, but Ill be very, very proud toachieve this.

Somebody out there want some ketchup with that shoe?

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 11.25.2011

590412 Dallas Stars

Brenden Morrow will probably miss next three games

Mike Heika / Reporter

[email protected] | Bio

2:29 PM on Thu., Nov. 24, 2011

Stars captain Brenden Morrow will probably miss the next three games,coach Glen Gulutzan said.

Morrow, who sat out Wednesday's 3-2 (OT) win against Los Angeles withan upper body injury, will not be ready to play Friday against Toronto and isnot expected to go on the two-game road trip to Phoenix (Saturday) andColorado (Monday). He could be ready to return Thursday at home againstOttawa.

Gulutzan said that Morrow has a couple of upper body issues he is dealingwith, and they want to get him completely healthy.

Gulutzan said Mike Ribeiro is fine after getting hit hard by Jack Johnson inovertime against the Kings.


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Gulutzan said Kari Lehtonen will play Friday against the Maple Leafs. Hesaid they will read and react after that game, but that Lehtonen might gethis first back-to-back games of the season and also play at Phoenix.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 11.25.2011

590413 Dallas Stars

Shots on goal don't tell Stars' whole story

MIKE HEIKA

[email protected]

Published: 24 November 2011 11:37 PM

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan has said this season that hes not that worriedabout excessive shots-against totals or about his team allowing a lot moreshots than it takes.

The key to winning and losing, he said, can be determined more by whichteam has the better Grade A scoring chances and which team is playing themore complete game.

And the first quarter of the NHL season will tell you he has a point.

The New York Rangers are getting outshot by 6.6 a game and are 10-5-3.Minnesota is getting outshot by 5.0 a game and has a 13-

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Sports Scans Daily Brief 11 25 2011