Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.
Preview: St. Louis Blues at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. EST Jaroslav Halak vs. Tomas Vokoun. Halak makes his first appearance in 13 days, telling the Post Dispatch:"My conditioning is always there and I have had times in the past where I have gone a couple of weeks between starts. It's just a matter of getting used to the game speed, but I feel good and I'm ready to go." Bet the under.
Preview: San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. EST. Alex Semin returns to the lineup for the Capitals, just in time to welcome the scorching Sharks to D.C., who are 7-0-1 over their last eight. Niemi gets the start; Antero Niittymaki will back up for San Jose.
Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. EST. Steve Mason takes on the shorthanded Penguins. Please recall the last time these teams met in Columbus, when the Pens won 7-2 and their fans took over the building. Great line from Puck-rakers: "Not much of a betting man, but I'm willing to wager we won't see a Blue Jackets fan riding the Zamboni tonight in CONSOL Energy Center."
Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. EST A little perspective on how fracking awesome Steven Stamkos is, from Lightning Strikes: "According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Stamkos' 114 goals by the age of 21 are the fourth-most in league history behind Wayne Gretzky (167), Jimmy Carson (141) and Dale Hawerchuk (122). Ilya Kovalchuk was fifth at 108." Said Bolts coach Guy Boucher on the Sabres: "They're coming in here with two days of rest, preparing exactly for us. It's the same scenario as Washington, so they're a team that's going to come in with a lot of motivation."
Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Left Wing Lock.
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Bold Prediction: Sharks top the Capitals in OT, despite multi-point nigh from Semin.