- Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby considers himself close to returning, but that doesn’t mean he’ll play in the next couple games.
“I need to get in some contact, more than just one bump in a morning skate,” Crosby said. “It’s got to be a few days of that. Whenever we can get some of those days together — and, hopefully, I’ll respond well to that — then I’ll be much closer than I am right now.”
- Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Evgeni Malkin missed his 5th straight game last night. He’s skated the past 2 days without any pain, and the Penguins believe he’ll be back soon. He’s been having issues with lingering scar tissue in his right knee. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek left in the 3rd period of last night’s game and they are unsure of the severity.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Canadiens have no idea when Andrei Markov will return. Unhappy with the with the way they’ve been playing, GM Pierre Gauthier may be willing to trade Andrei Kostitsyn to bring in some help. Kostitsyn will be a free agent after the season and is making $3.25 million. Kostitsyn is inconsistent but it might bring the team a veteran defenseman. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is also looking to add a defenseman. The Blue Jackets were rumored to have offered Steve Mason and Jakub Voracek to the Flyers for Mike Richards before the Jeff Carter deal was made. Flyers winger Scott Hartnell will have a cap hit of $4.2 million for the next 2 years and finds himself on the 3rd line. Coyotes aren’t shopping RFA holdout Kyle Turris but they are getting calls. Don’t be surprised if the Jets show interest in Flames Rene Bourque as they need help up front. The Canucks aren’t trying to trade defenseman Keith Ballard.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: Lots of talk around the league. The Canucks may not be done.
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer left last night’s game after the 1st period. He was hit in the head by Brian Gionta and suffered “whiplash-type symptoms” according to coach Ron Wilson. “This early in the season, we didn’t want to risk it,” Wilson said of keeping Reimer in the room the rest of the night. “It was clearly an elbow to the head. I don’t know if you’d call it a head shot, but when you knock the goalie’s mask off …”
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Blues forward David Backes collided with Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger in the 2nd period. They hit shoulder to shoulder, with Backes appearing to bang his head off the ice.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers coach Tom Renny talked to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins about the comments on made on Friday about sitting RNH down. Renny didn’t tell him if he’ll remain with the team for the season. Matheson via twitter: Nugent-Hopkins swears he hasn’t been told if he’ll play past 9 games this year. Taylor Hall was told after 4 games last year that he’d be staying.
- Bill Beacon of CP in the Globe and Mail: Canadiens forward Scott Gomez will be out out at least a week with an upper-body injury.
- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators Matt Carkner and Bobby Butler practiced with the team but both are a “still a distance away” from getting back in the lineup. Peter Regin re-injured his shoulder on Thursday and they are awaiting a prognosis from the doctors.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: After only registering 1 goal and 3 assists in 7 games, Avalanche center Matt Duchene found himself centering the 4th line of Jay McClement and Cody McLeod last night. He only played 11:35 minutes.