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 Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET. Newest Blue Jordan Leopold will be in the lineup tonight paired with Kevin Shattenkirk as St. Louis tries to end Minnesota's five-game home win streak. After three straight losses, the Blues find themselves on the outside looking in in regards to the Western Conference playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Wild sit comfortably in a playoff spot and could add to their lineup should they seal a deal to acquire Ryane Clowe from San Jose.

Preview: Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. ET. Jarome Iginla is not around for this "Battle of Alberta" and making matter worse for the Flames is that they enter Rexall Place tonight on a 10-game road losing streak. With that in mind, this could be an easy trap game for the Oilers, as they sit two points behind Columbus for the No. 8 seed.

Preview: Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET. Cory Schneider will look to rebound after getting blitz by the Oilers on Saturday night and faces off against Antti Niemi, who's won his last four starts. All eyes will be on Clowe as he's the subject of intense trade rumors. Will this be his last game as a Shark? Will he still be a Shark come faceoff?

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 Goalie Post.

Evening Reading

• Bemidji State's hockey program announced today that they've received commitments from the triplets who starred in the movie "Baby Geniuses". No word if Christopher Lloyd will be named head coach. [Western College Hockey Blog]

• Do the Dallas Stars sign or trade Jaromir Jagr? That's the debate going on in the Stars' front office, according to Pierre LeBrun. [ESPN]

• Are the Kings about to pull off another Stanley Cup run? [Sunbelt Hockey Journal]


• All about Zenon Konopka and his bunny, Hoppy. [NHLPA]

Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Jim on whether or not Thomas Vanek might get traded:

Vanek, despite the injuries, is the player you keep and build around. The Sabres D is what needs changed. Myers has been a giveaway machine...I don't know if it's all on him, or if it's a combination of coaching and him. Leopold needed to go, as does Regehr. If we were to get a really good offer for Miller, I wouldn't be against trading him. This team basically is "leader-less" and needs a strong personality to come in and assume the "C", Pomm's is not, nor was he ever, "C" material. The closest thing they have to that right now is Ott.
I would not blow up the team, however, there are some pieces that need moved/replaced.
Bold Prediction: Isles win, Rangers lose, putting Jack Capuano's bunch into a playoff spot.