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Around the rink - Friday, November 19th

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Friday night kicks off your hockey-filled weekend of wonder. Wait, that makes it sound like a trippy kid’s show from the 1970s. Ahh screw it, we’re running with it and H.R. Pufnstuf is just going to have to deal with it. A docket filled with nine games comes your way tonight. All times listed are Eastern.

7:00 pm

Carolina @ Pittsburgh

In the last four games the Hurricanes have played, either they or their opponents have scored seven or eight goals. If this trend continues, someone’s having a big night and with Justin Peters getting the call in goal tonight against Marc-Andre Fleury... Well, all bets are off. Peters is 2-0 this year when giving Cam Ward a night off. Meanwhile, the Pens are on a roll getting points in their last four games, winning three of them.

7:30 pm

Minnesota @ Detroit

The Wings are hot and the Wild are going to need to muster every bit of goaltending they can to deal with them. The Wings are winners of four straight and are coming off a seven-goal game in which they dented Jaroslav Halak for all seven. Nik Backstrom has been very good this year for Minnesota but he’ll need his best to slow down Detroit on home ice and continue their own winning ways. The Wild have won two in a row and have held their opponents to just one goal in both wins.

Los Angeles @ Buffalo

The Sabres kick off a four-game home stand with one of the best in the west. Craig Rivet will be back in the lineup for Buffalo on defense, meanwhile Peter Harrold gets the start on D for the Kings over Jake Muzzin. The Sabres are starting to get a bit more consistent. Meanwhile, the Kings will be looking to bounce back after a loss to Columbus. This could’ve featured Ryan Miller against fellow American goalie Jon Quick, but Jonathan Bernier will get the start for L.A. instead.

Washington @ Atlanta

So we meet again... This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams already this season and with them having just six games against each other all year, you have to wonder why the schedule makers wanted these two to get done with each other so soon. Atlanta is 1-1-1 against the Caps so far this year, winning their only game on opening night. Atlanta at some point is going to have to get some good goaltending going and if it doesn’t come tonight, it could mean big things for Alex Semin and Alex Ovechkin who each have 25 points already this year.

8:00 pm

Ottawa @ St. Louis

A couple of teams looking for some redemption meet up in St. Louis. The Sens are coming off a 8-1 beating at the hands of the Hurricanes, meanwhile the Blues are still recovering from a 7-3 thrashing by Detroit. Ty Conklin will try to bring some stability to the St. Louis nets as they’ve been getting lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree of late during their five-game losing streak. In those five games, the Blues have allowed a total of 29 goals, nearly six per game. Ottawa hasn’t been much better in their last two losses giving up 12 total goals. Perhaps a couple of struggling offenses can get jump-started tonight instead.

9:00 pm

NY Rangers @ Colorado

The Rangers hit the road and get to deal with Craig Anderson in goal for Colorado who returns from a knee injury. One thing possibly working in Colorado’s favor tonight is Marian Gaborik. Sure, he’s an offensive threat against them but it’s possible he could be looking ahead to the Rangers next game in Minnesota. It’ll be interesting to see how the Rangers defense handles the speedy Avalanche and whether or not Henrik Lundqvist will have to stand on his head or not.

Phoenix @ Edmonton

So the Coyotes are on a tear and the Oilers are floundering under the pressure of youth, meanwhile the Oilers will be without Nikolai Khabibulin who is out with a groin injury. Devan Dubnyk figures to start for Edmonton but should he falter, we’ll have the NHL return of Martin Gerber who was called up from Oklahoma City to back up Dubnyk in the meantime. The Coyotes, meanwhile, are winners of four in a row and playing very well much thanks to the play of Ilya Bryzgalov.

9:30 pm

Chicago @ Calgary

The Flames will be without Olli Jokinen who is sitting for his suspension for cross checking Wojtek Wolski in the head the other night. The Flames will have new acquisitions Tom Kostopolous and Anton Babchuk in the lineup however. Chicago, meanwhile, looks to keep building off of the great play of Jonathan Toews of late. Guy to keep an eye on? Patrick Kane. Today is Kane’s 22nd birthday and we’re sure he’ll be looking to bust loose to celebrate.

10:00 pm

Columbus @ Anaheim

So far, so good on the California trip for the Jackets. A 5-3 win over L.A. the other night got them started, but dealing with the Ducks in Anaheim is a tricky task in itself. Anaheim is a tough team to face at The Pond and that’s how they’d like it to stay. Seven of their 10 wins this season have come in Anaheim. Meanwhile, the Jackets top line will be their focus. The line of Jakub Voracek, Derick Brassard, and Rick Nash have been nasty and carrying the load for the team.