Bruce McCurdy: Oilers coach Dallas Eakins said that special teams needs as his driving decision to bench Jeff Petry, but he was their top penalty killing defenseman (SHTOI/G) from the past two seasons.
Ryan Rishaug: Since he missed all of training camp, the Oilers may not want to have Petry playing in back-to-back games just yet. Might have something to do with his benching.
Mike Heika: Stars GM Jim Nill said that they will sit Valeri Nichushkin for a week to rest is sore groin.
Jimmy Murphy: As with what Elliotte Friedman said last week, source says that talk that Blue Jackets Nathan Horton is “done for good” are “premature”. He is “bad” though.
Joe Smith: Lightning’s Radko Gudas is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
