• The suspension for Patrick Roy's player/son Frédérick, whose cross-check to the face we covered in the morning headlines? Fifteen games. [Sportsnet]
• It's being widely reported, via a translated French-language interview Roberto Luongo's agent Gilles Lupien did with the French-language website http://www.cyberpresse.ca, that the Canucks' goalie will miss 4-5 weeks. But Lupien was just giving what he felt was a "reasonable timetable." And the official word is that Luongo will be out "week to week." [Vancouver Province]
Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. EST; TV: FSD, RSW, Yahoo! Sports). The Wings are pretending that Luongo's injury doesn't change anything about this interesting Western Conference showdown. Detroit will be without Tomas Holmstrom, who has been told to "shut it down" for a week (meaning two weeks); Valtteri Filppula has the flu, but could still play.
Preview: Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSSW, CSP). The good times continue for Dallas as Steve Ott is out a month with a broken hand. Chris Connor is back from the AHL and could play on Brad Richards's line against the Flyers.
• Spector looks at how the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks have turned around their fortunes. Hint: Having good players and solid goaltending helps. [Fox Sports]
• Michael Dell from LCS Hockey: "Aside from the tributes to Hee Haw and moonshine concession stands, Shea Weber remains the best reason to attend a Predators game." [LCS]
Preview: New York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, MSG). All those Canadian journalists that are super-cool with six Canadiens starting in the All-Star Game would be equally super-cool if we were talking about six Islanders players, right? Just checking again.
• Your three stars of last week: Marc Savard, Boston Bruins; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks. [NHL]
• Looking at how the return of Matthew Lombardi affects the rest of the Calgary Flames line formations. [Five Hole Fanatics]
Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EST; TV: FSAZ, MSG). The Coyotes are trying to avoid their sixth straight loss. Meanwhile, the Rangers will try and quell a fan and media uprising should they lose at home against a beatable opponent.
Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSS, FSFL). George Richards said it best: "Pete DeBoer says this is a huge week, one in which the Panthers have to turn their season around. No doubt. Panthers have eight points available between now and Sunday; chance to get things back in order. On them now." No Nick Boynton or Cory Stillman tonight.
• Former Hurricanes prospect Matt Murley has received a ruling from the IIHF after leaving for the KHL. Hockey Joe explains: "The IIHF says that they don't approve of the KHL flouting the lack of agreement between the leagues. They don't approve of Murley going to Russia in spite of having a contract with the Hurricanes. No, they're not going to punish anyone for their insolence in the matter." [Gross Misconduct]
• Mike Chen takes an interesting look at "franchise" players Marian Gaborik and David Legwand. [Versus]
Preview: Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. EST; TV: VS). Minnesota has not been kind to the Capitals, as they have never won at the Xcel Energy Center, going 0-3-1. Plus, they received Dino Ciccarelli and Bob Rouse for Mike Gartner and Larry Murphy back in 1989. Mike Green, Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov are all out for the Caps. Michael Russo looks forward to a Niklas Backstrom vs. Nicklas Backstrom shootout.
Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. EST; TV: KDOC). The good news: Joe Sakic's back is feeling fine. The bad news: He'll still miss this game after undergoing a root canal. Our fingers just went numb typing that. Brendan Morrison will be back in the lineup for the Ducks after being a healthy (and angry) scratch over the weekend.
• Finally, a great little post from David Singer of Hockey Fights about Milan Lucic, Georges Laraque, Bob Probert and Wendel Clark:
The first time Clark fought Probert was October of 1987, Clark was just about to turn 21. Probert, already on top of the fighting scene, was just a year older. Clark didn't fare so well, but that wasn't the point. He took on everyone. He made his own space, which he needed with that wrister he took. He then took on everyone again.
If Lucic is going to become a premier powerforward in the league, there's no reason he can't play like one of the best of the past 20 years.
Here's Clark/Probert Round 1. Round 2 can be found here.
