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.
• There are 11 games on the docket tonight. We'll preview some of the biggies here; check out the rest on the Yahoo! Sports schedules page.
• NBC has decided to place the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers as its Feb. 15 "flex scheduling" game, which means the Devils and San Jose Sharks go back to local broadcasters. It's the last time the Sharks had a chance to get on NBC before the Stanley Cup playoffs. But at least we'll get round 10 billion of the Rangers and Flyers instead of the best team in the NHL. [Battle of NY and Puck The Media]
Preview: Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. EST; TV: VS). Money quote from Caps coach Bruce Boudreau on his team's foes this evening: "Two things happened, 1) Clemmensen is a lot better than people give him credit for and 2) the [other] players sat there and said, 'Hey, we're not all Marty Brodeur. As good as Brodeur is, we can play, too.' And they've gone out and shown the hockey world how good they can be individually."
• In which Puck Daddy is taken to the woodshed by a gajillionaire for not having a blog roll. [Ted's Take]
• Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk will pay a $1 million US to settle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In a related story, Alex Auld was left on the doorstep of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this afternoon. [CBC Sports]
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• More glorious Adam Graves memories in preparation for his number retirement tonight for the New York Rangers. His No. 9 will hang from the MSG rafters on a banner shaped like a bone in Mario Lemieux's left hand. [NY Daily News]
Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, FSPI). All eyes on Alex Kovalev tonight, as he plays his first game after getting called out by his coach and seeing Robert Lang go down (potentially) for the season. Quote of the day from Penguins assistant Andre Savard on Mark Eaton: ""His positioning is good. He has a good stick in tight, but if you're late getting in tight, you're not effective." Truer words ...
• You know, if you wrote down every single excuse for having to cancel a college hockey game, "volcano eruption" would probably rank right between "Cloverfield attack" and "Arli$$ marathon on ESPN Classic." And yet that's exactly what the University of Alaska-Anchorage men's hockey team is facing. You betcha.[FanHouse]
• Are Mike Babcock and Tomas Holmstrom on different planets when it comes to the treatment Homer needs to get back on the ice? [A2Y]
Preview: Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSFL, RSN). Mike Van Ryn missed Round 1 of the Leafs/Panthers because of his second concussion this season. He's really excited about facing his former teammates, none of whose names he actually remembers.
• Speaking of concussions, Eric Lindros has left his post as NHLPA ombudsman. Who will edit the newsletter now? [Toronto Star]
Preview: Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, FSSW). The Stars begin the night sixth in the West, four points in back of Anaheim. That's insane. The Calgary Herald is doing a cool thing where different writers, broadcasters and at least one Web-based writer break down the game and make a prediction.
• Very interesting story from the Anaheim Ducks, regarding how the team is attempting to get Jean-Sebastien Giguere's head back into hockey following the death of his father. [Ducks Blog]
Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, RSW). The Canucks' ownership situation has finally been resolved after a messy court battle. Speaking of messy, Shane O'Brien apologizes for trying not to be a goon.
• Raymond Bourque will be in the hizzy for Glen Wesley Night for the Hurricanes this month. [Hurricanes]
• Finally, NHL.com takes a look at the crib of Phoenix Coyotes rookie Kyle Turris. Nineteen year-olds have too much money these days:
