Elliotte Friedman via twitter: Hearing that Raffi Torres is appealing his 25 games suspension. Saying that 25 games was “excessive.” The CBA says that discipline needs to be enforced in a “consistent” manner. The question is if the suspension is consistent others? The appeal will be heard by Bettman. He will decide if it’s a in-person hearing, by phone or none at all. Bettman must write a ruling upon his decision. Darren Dreger via twitter: Torres appeal could be held next week. A reduction is unlikely.
Pierre LeBrun via twitter: Alexander Radulov was skating with Andrei Kostitsyn and Craig Smith at Predators practice this morning.
Andy Strickland of True Hockey: The Blues hope to get defenseman Alex Pietrangelo back tonight. He’s been battling a lower body injury as well as concussion like symptoms. He made it through yesterday’s practice, but it may depend on how his head feels.
Tom Gulitti via twitter: Top 3 Devils lines: Parise-Elias-Clarkson; Sykora-Zajac-Zubrus; Ponikarovsky-Henrique-Bernier. Rich Chere via twitter: Ilya Kovalchuck is skating with Ryan Carter and Stephen Gionta. Kovalchuk said he’s ready to play, a coaches decision. NJ Devils PR via twitter: Coach Peter DeBoer said that Kovalchuk wll be a game-time decision.
Capgeek via twitter: Flames Roman Cervenka has bonuses “totalling $2 million for Hart, Richard, Selke and Conn Smythe voting, all-star team selection, and top-10 scoring stats.” Cervenka has a European assignment clause so if it doesn’t work out, he can leave.
