- Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times: Lightning coach Guy Boucher won’t reveal who his starting goalie will be, but it sounds like it would be Dwayne Roloson.
“I don’t feel like we’ve got a situation. … We’ve got a goaltender that has taken us here that knows how to win and knows how to bounce back.”
So is Roloson playing?
“He’s getting prepared for (today),” Boucher said.
- Mark Emmons of hte San Jose Mercury News: Sharks Joe Thornton didn’t return after taking a shoulder-to-shoulder hit by Raffi Torres in the 3rd period. Thornton didn’t talk to the media afterwards, but did send a text message that he’ll be in the lineup for Game 5,
“100 percent,” Thornton texted in response to the question of whether or not he expected to play. “It’s playoffs, got to play through everything.”
- David Climer of the Tennessean: The Predators need to lock up their face of the franchise, Shea Weber, and they should do it soon. If Weber is able to hit the open next season as a UFA, the Preds would have little chance of retaining him, as he could hit the $8 million mark.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Islanders can’t just trade Evgeni Nabokov for a draft pick or prospect. “If the Flyers, who would like to dump some salary, aren’t willing to give up Kris Versteeg, Scott Hartnell or defenceman Matt Carle, all of whom make at least $3 million US a season, Snow should say no thanks.” If Nikolai Zherdevi isn’t playing in the KHL next year, Matheson would be shocked. Joni Pitkanen would look good in a Red Wings jersey, but they may not have the cap space to sign him. Do the Blue Jackets have the money to give Pitkanen? If the Oilers go after any unrestricted free agents, they should go after Brooks Laich. It wouldn’t be a surprised if former Blue Jackets assistant Bob Boughner becomes a Red Wings assistant.
- Genadi Boguslavski via twitter: Sometime this week Jaromir Jagr will sign a deal with SKA of the KHL.
- Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Dominik Hasek hasn’t received any contract offer yet for next season, and if he doesn’t, he’ll officially retire.
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has said that it could be difficult for them to re-sign Jussi Jokinen. Jokinen could get as much as $3 million per season on the open market.