Here are your Evening Puck Headlines and Previews: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• This "Hey There Iginla" song is a little moldy as far as musical references go, but the lyrics are laser sharp and the "hey kids, let's put on a show" production values will win you over. Nicely done. [Matchsticks and Gasoline]
• Winter Classic at Fenway, Update No. 1: Scott Burnside of ESPN reports that the deal is nearly done, and that concerns about off-season construction at the Park getting in the way "have been addressed." [ESPN]
• Winter Classic at Fenway, Update No. 2: The Washington Capitals are totally into playing in the Classic, but haven't heard from the NHL whether that interest translates into a spot in the 2010 edition of the outdoor event. There's scuttlebutt tonight that the Caps have the gig. [Capitals Insider]
Preview: Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, FSD). It's Project Mayhem time for St. Louis Game Day, as they've instructed the loyal St. Louis Blues fans in the readership to passionately sleep with the enemy and support the Wings for a night. A Nashville loss combined with a St. Louis win on Friday night means the end for the Preds.
Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, NESN). The Habs need a single point to clinch a playoff spot, which is easier said than done when they have Boston and the Pittsburgh Penguins left on the docket. Hub Hockey expects the San Jose Sharks to take the President's Trophy, so they also expect the Bruins to play this game with reckless abandon. We'll buy that for a dollar.
Sports
• The Pittsburgh Penguins will play Mathieu Garon and Philippe Boucher tonight; Hooks thinks that Boucher could contribute in the postseason if he can shake the rust away. [Pensburgh]
• "Penguins Fans Invited to 'Grow One for the Team.'" And yet this story has nothing to do with ice girls. [Penguins]
• Damian Cristodero reminds us that Don Koharski referees his final NHL game tonight. Pour a little Boston crème out for the homie. [Lightning Stikes]
Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EST; TV: CSP, MSG, Yahoo! Sports). The Rangers need a win or a loss by Florida to snag a playoff berth. The NY Post doesn't want to see the Blueshirts back into the playoffs. The Flyers, meanwhile, still have an outside shot of winning the division, but clearly want to keep home ice against either the Carolina Hurricanes or the Penguins. They'd also like to figure out how to fit in that nice Luca Sbisa back onto the roster for the postseason.
Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, FSS ). The Canes continue to be en fuego (for the Spanish-speaking fans and/or ESPN viewers in our readership), seeking their 10th consecutive victory, which would be a franchise record. Paul Maurice thinks you're crazy for thinking he should have given Cam Ward a breather during their 9-0 rout of the Islanders the other night. Meanwhile, the odds that the Sabres will make the playoffs are about as good as Keith Moon rejoining The Who on tour.
• Everybody gave them grief, but those garish specialty jerseys the Hershey Bears wore for Breast Cancer Awareness, St. Patrick's Day and Camouflage Night (!) netted $120,000 for charity after auction. [Bangin Panger]
Preview: Florida Panthers at Atlanta Thrashers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSFL, SS). The Panthers need two wins and help to make the playoffs for the first time since "Erin Brockovich" was in theaters. Here's the nutty part: For all the crazy miracle Panthers talk, they're actually only just four points ahead of their total from last season. Ah, well ... best of luck in Blueland.
• The Vancouver Canucks need a little help, but they can still catch the Calgary Flames for the division title. [Globe & Mail]
• "The Calgary Flames are dead-ass broke" story finally goes mainstream, as Darren Dreger of TSN takes a look at how they played a man short due to salary cap issues. [TSN]
• You too can own an original piece of doodle from Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau. Melrose was going to get involved, but the waitress threw away the napkin. [Japers Rink]
