Pre-Game Skate 11/4/14: Pens @ Wild, Gibson Sidelined, Tarasenko is Sick

Last night the NHL had only one game on the slate and if you missed the Blues’ 4-3 shootout win over the Rangers, you missed a couple of great moments that you’ll probably see on a few highlight posts. (Like this one. It’s happening to you right now, just like I predicted.)

First, the Rangers got Blues goaltender Brian Elliott way out of position after he committed to covering a puck he didn’t make it to. But the Blues managed to stop the Rangers from scoring by having every player on the ice pile up in front of the net like lincoln logs.

The other highlight is to Vladimir Tarasenko hype what spinach is to Popeye.

Tarasenko scored a pretty incredible one-hander against Cam Talbot. He made the Rangers on the ice look like traffic cones on morphine. You will see this play again at the end of the season.

Two notes on this goal:
1. Tarasenko is a very good hockey player, but it’s early in the season and the hype on him should maybe slow down a bit. He’s on pace for 52 goals. That’s a mark he’s not going to reach. He’s good, but not the NHL’s next 50-goal scorer. At least not this season.
2. If you’re going to call a player “sick,” think about it first. Lots of Blues players have been sick and your headline might be confusing to people who haven’t seen Tarasenko’s sick hands yet.

One more thought on that goal: It was very nice.

News:

– Ducks goaltender John Gibson is expected to miss six weeks with a groin injury. He suffered the injury before a game against Colorado, requiring veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera to take the reins for the Ducks. He was called up because Frederik Andersen is day-to-day with leg tightness. Andersen is off to an incredible start to the season and surprised some by beating out Gibson for the #1 title among Ducks goaltenders. The Ducks have recalled Igor Bobkov to back-up LaBarbera until Andersen is ready to go. Side note: Gibson’s game-day injury also required the Ducks’ goaltending consultant Dwayne Roloson — and former Wild goaltender — to suit up and sit on the bench. Roloson is 45 and retired in 2012.

– The Blue Jackets are getting Boone Jenner back. That’s great news for Columbus, who have had the worst injury luck I can remember. They also placed Artem Anisimov and Cody Goloubef on IR. They’re also missing Mark Letestu, Nathan Horton, Brandon Dubinsky, Corey Tropp, Mark Letestu, Ryan Murray, James Wisniewski, and Sergei Bobrovsky. That’s ten starters out and they got one back off IR today.

– Get ready to have the roof of your skull blown through your cubicle wall: The Capitals are considering a Mike Green trade.

Wildlings

My preview of tonight’s Wild vs. Penguins game.

Justin Bourne looks at whether or not the Wild are the best team in the NHL.

A great look into how Marco Scandella has quietly become great.

Aaron Lapensky digs into the Wild’s penalty kill at Wild Xtra.

Giles Ferrell explores the Wild and how the team is suddenly taking lots of shots.

Podcast-city: Wild Xtra has launched their new podcast and there’s a new episode of the Hockey Wilderness podcast with special guest Tony Dean from Hockey Buzz.

Tonight’s Games:

(all times Eastern)
Flames @ Capitals, 7pm

Panthers @ Bruins, 7pm
The Bruins will be without David Krejci for the second game in a row.

Oilers @ Flyers, 7pm
Taylor Hall has been placed on IR. He’ll be replaced on the top line by ex-Wild forward Benoit Pouliot.

Hurricanes @ Blue Jackets, 7pm

Red Wings @ Senators, 7:30pm

Blackhawks @ Canadiens, 7:30pm
Coach Joel Quenneville tends to lean toward a balanced attack with his forwards, but will opt to forgo that approach with the team struggling to score. He’s reuniting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on a line tonight.

Blues @ Devils, 7:30pm (on NBCSN)

Penguins @ Wild, 8pm

Predators @ Jets, 8pm

Kings @ Stars, 8:30pm
The Stars look like they’ll be getting Valeri Nichushkin and Sergei Gonchar back in the lineup tonight.

Canucks @ Avalanche, 9pm
Top Vancouver prospect Bo Horvat will make his NHL debut tonight against Colorado, centering the fourth line.

Maple Leafs @ Coyotes, 9pm