NEWARK, N.J. -- Hello from the Mile High Press Box in Newark, where you definitely have a better view of the ice than I do.
And many of you are in South Florida.
I think I can see Hoboken from here.
Anyway, Craig Anderson makes his third straight start today, Tomas Vokoun is dressed but apparently not good enough to go.
Vokoun is lucky in one regard: The team is taking a train to Washington after the game so the pressure of an airplane won't mess with his inner ear infection. At least not until Monday's flight to the 'ATL' that is.
-- Cory Stillman is out a second straight game with an injured foot. I earlier reported that it was his ankle based off information I was given, but as Stillman said ''you were close.'' It's his foot. Says it's badly bruised and he can't get the foot into his skate boot without serious pain. He should have just left it on.
-- Nick Boynton is also out, likely watching on television from home.
-- Martin Brodeur in net for the Devils -- who, interestingly enough, have a priest walking around press level. I can't make stuff like this up.
-- The Lines: CPR; Frolik-Weiss-Booth; Zed-Horton-McLean; Stew-Kreps-Tarn. D Combos: Bo/Skrastins; Ballard/McCabe; Welch/Cullimore.
-- Last night's scores (and how they affected the Panthers): Montreal beats Philly, but it comes in overtime. So, another three point game. Habs now three points up on FLA in fifth, Philly six points up in fourth. Pittsburgh beats Chicago in a wild overtime affair, the Pens picking up two clutch points. Pens are one point out, but have played two more games than Florida.
-- Today's games (and who the Panthers would be cheering for if they weren't visiting the Washington Monument later tonight. And there are a lot of games, so the only games listed are ones that have anything to do with the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.)
Caps @ Bruins, 1: Washington is running away with the Southeast, but root for the Bs if you wanna.
Panthers @ Devils, 1: Florida players are big fans of Martin Brodeur, so they are rooting for the Devils obviously.
Sharks @ Canadiens, 7: Don't need any more wins by Montreal.
Leafs @ Senators, 7: Just threw this one in there.
Sabres @ Islanders, 7: Need a solid performance at the lighthouse by the fishermen.
Avs @ Rangers, 7: Colorado doesn't look too good right now, but neither do the Rangers.
Canes @ Thrash, 7: Hockey Night in the ATL. Always an exciting time.
The Standings (presented by Satriale's Pork Store in Kearny; courtesy of TSN.ca/NHL)
Eastern | ||||||||||||
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OT | PTS | GF | GA | Home | Away | Last 10 | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 62 | 42 | 12 | 8 | 92 | 212 | 138 | 21-4-4 | 21-8-4 | 4-4-2 | Won 2 |
| 2 | Washington | 62 | 39 | 18 | 5 | 83 | 207 | 179 | 25-6-1 | 14-12-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 1 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 61 | 39 | 19 | 3 | 81 | 186 | 151 | 20-10-1 | 19-9-2 | 7-3-0 | Won 1 |
| 4 | Philadelphia | 60 | 33 | 17 | 10 | 76 | 198 | 175 | 18-8-4 | 15-9-6 | 7-2-1 | Lost 1 |
| 5 | Montreal | 62 | 33 | 22 | 7 | 73 | 191 | 187 | 19-6-4 | 14-16-3 | 4-5-1 | Won 3 |
| 6 | Florida | 61 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 70 | 169 | 166 | 17-8-5 | 14-14-3 | 6-4-0 | Won 1 |
| 7 | NY Rangers | 63 | 31 | 24 | 8 | 70 | 153 | 174 | 18-10-4 | 13-14-4 | 2-5-3 | Lost 4 |
| 8 | Buffalo | 62 | 31 | 24 | 7 | 69 | 182 | 173 | 17-12-2 | 14-12-5 | 4-4-2 | Lost 2 |
| 9 | Carolina | 63 | 32 | 26 | 5 | 69 | 166 | 181 | 17-13-1 | 15-13-4 | 6-4-0 | Won 1 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | 63 | 31 | 26 | 6 | 68 | 191 | 195 | 17-12-2 | 14-14-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 2 |
| 11 | Toronto | 62 | 24 | 26 | 12 | 60 | 187 | 224 | 11-11-8 | 13-15-4 | 5-2-3 | Won 3 |
| 12 | Ottawa | 60 | 23 | 28 | 9 | 55 | 149 | 172 | 13-11-5 | 10-17-4 | 6-3-1 | Lost 1 |
| 13 | Tampa Bay | 62 | 20 | 30 | 12 | 52 | 156 | 198 | 11-12-8 | 9-18-4 | 3-6-1 | Lost 2 |
| 14 | Atlanta | 62 | 22 | 34 | 6 | 50 | 183 | 218 | 10-17-2 | 12-17-4 | 4-5-1 | Lost 1 |
| 15 | NY Islanders | 61 | 18 | 36 | 7 | 43 | 148 | 204 | 12-13-5 | 6-23-2 | 2-6-2 | Lost 2 |
Western | ||||||||||||
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OT | PTS | GF | GA | Home | Away | Last 10 | Streak |
| 1 | San Jose | 60 | 42 | 9 | 9 | 93 | 203 | 145 | 26-2-3 | 16-7-6 | 6-2-2 | Won 1 |
| 2 | Detroit | 62 | 41 | 13 | 8 | 90 | 234 | 179 | 24-4-3 | 17-9-5 | 7-2-1 | Won 2 |
| 3 | Calgary | 61 | 37 | 18 | 6 | 80 | 195 | 175 | 22-7-4 | 15-11-2 | 7-1-2 | Won 4 |
| 4 | Chicago | 60 | 34 | 17 | 9 | 77 | 201 | 153 | 15-5-6 | 19-12-3 | 5-4-1 | Lost 3 |
| 5 | Vancouver | 61 | 31 | 22 | 8 | 70 | 183 | 174 | 15-11-4 | 16-11-4 | 8-2-0 | Won 1 |
| 6 | Columbus | 62 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 68 | 167 | 173 | 19-10-2 | 12-15-4 | 7-2-1 | Won 1 |
| 7 | Minnesota | 60 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 65 | 153 | 141 | 18-11-5 | 12-14-0 | 4-4-2 | Lost 2 |
| 8 | Dallas | 60 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 65 | 175 | 183 | 17-10-4 | 12-14-3 | 5-5-0 | Lost 3 |
| 9 | Edmonton | 61 | 30 | 26 | 5 | 65 | 170 | 186 | 14-12-4 | 16-14-1 | 4-4-2 | Lost 1 |
| 10 | Anaheim | 63 | 30 | 28 | 5 | 65 | 176 | 185 | 15-13-3 | 15-15-2 | 4-6-0 | Lost 1 |
| 11 | Nashville | 62 | 30 | 28 | 4 | 64 | 151 | 172 | 18-11-2 | 12-17-2 | 5-4-1 | Won 3 |
| 12 | St. Louis | 61 | 27 | 26 | 8 | 62 | 170 | 180 | 16-11-5 | 11-15-3 | 6-2-2 | Won 2 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 61 | 26 | 26 | 9 | 61 | 158 | 175 | 13-13-8 | 13-13-1 | 3-5-2 | Lost 2 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 62 | 27 | 30 | 5 | 59 | 158 | 190 | 17-12-2 | 10-18-3 | 3-7-0 | Lost 2 |
| 15 | Colorado | 62 | 28 | 33 | 1 | 57 | 168 | 194 | 17-14-0 | 11-19-1 | 3-7-0 | Lost 3 |
Ducks @ Star
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