Here are your Evening Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
Preview: Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSPT, CSBA, Yahoo! Sports). Man, are we pumped for this game, which you can watch right here on Yahoo! Sports as well. Sharks Coach Todd McLellan refuses to count the Ducks out of the division race, calling them "a pretty damn good hockey club." Anaheim should start Jonas Hiller tonight.
Preview: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, FSPI). John Curry will get the start tonight for the Pens, who will also get Philippe Boucher back on their blue line. And what's this: Rick DiPietro ... skating and planning to come back this month?!
• Adam Proteau of The Hockey News believes that Ottawa, Columbus, Atlanta and Colorado are all already out of the playoff picture. And he's willing to put his pride on the line to prove it, making stunt-bets should he in fact be wrong. Example: If Atlanta makes the postseason, he'll "ask Thrashers coach John Anderson to re-grow his famous moustache, shave it and paste the shavings on my face for an entire week." And today, even for a moment, we are all Thrashers fans. [THN]
• Who is in your Fab Five, a.k.a. the "top five NHL'ers you enjoy watching play?" Here's a list from Mike Toth of Sportsnet, with a healthy portion of Sidney Crosby bashing. [Sportsnet]
Preview: Nashville Predators at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, CSP, Yahoo! Sports). The Jackets won the first matchup between these teams, but Nashville is still on a 16-1-1 roll over Columbus. Wonder if Hitchcock still wants to "kick their ass."
Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, CSP). In one of those wacky NHL scheduling quirks, this will be the fourth time these teams have played since Nov. 26. Philly's won two of them.
• In light of Joe Sakic's injury, other great moments in home-based accidents for NHL players. Brilliant stuff. [Two-Line Pass]
• You know, it's one thing for the New York Rangers to retire the number of Adam Graves. But do we really need an official viewing party at the theater next to the Garden? [Scotty Hockey]
Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, SUN). The last time the Bolts lost 10 games in a row was in 2001, although there are a couple of overtime losses in this current nine-game skid. This matchup has lost its magic now that there aren't 10 billion Vinny-to-the-Habs rumors following his new contract.
Preview: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. EST; TV: RSW). Mathieu Garon will be in goal for the Oil against Craig Anderson. All the attention in Edmonton is on local boy Jay Bouwmeester's contract status, but George Richards doesn't expect him to want to play under the microscope in Alberta.
• That said, it appears the Bouwmeester Derby has started; and if it's not the Oilers in the mix, what could the Calgary Flames offer the Panthers? [Five Hole Fanatics]
• Wow, so we're down to this angle for Marian Hossa: Do you regret not signing that $81 million deal with Edmonton now that the stock market sucks and people are losing their jobs? Well, do ya? [Canadian Press]
Preview: Minnesota Wild at Phoenix Coyotes (9 p.m. EST; TV: FSNO, FSAZ). Marian Gaborik has been practicing, and miraculously hasn't reinjured himself yet. Interesting note from 18,568 Reasons Why: It seems that when they flashed Gabby's image "on the big screen during a recent home game, the crowd booed." Ouch.
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSMW, FSW). Manny Legace took a knee to the head against the Ducks, so Chris Mason gets the start for the Blues. Huge line changes for LA: Patrick O'Sullivan will skate on a top line with Anze Kopitar and Teddy Purcell, and Kyle Quincey may skate with Drew Doughty as a top pairing.
• Japers' take on whether Brent Johnson is "the guy" for the Washington Capitals. [Japers Rink]
• Finally, and in honor of tonight's Ducks game, here's Chris Pronger with a public service announcement:
