Morning Hits: Injury updates, Kopitar, MSG, Laviolette and Winter Classic in Minnesota
  • Chad Graff: Wild coach Mike Yeo was told that Ryan Suter’s injury was “nothing serious”. At this time of year though, little is “serious.”
  • Chicago Blackhawks: Niklas Hjalmarsson was cleared to play last night, but not cleared to talk after taking a puck to the throat during Game 2.
  • Katie Strang: Rangers coach Alain Vigneault wouldn’t commit to anything on Chris Kreider, but it’s sounding like he’s getting close to returning.
  • Let’s Play Hockey: Phil Housley will remain as the Predators assistant coach under Peter Laviolette.
  • Joe Haggerty: Bruins Dennis Seidenberg was the first skater on the first for their non-contact morning skate yesterday.
  • Craig Custance: Johan Franzen and now Anze Kopitar are the only players in the last 15 years to record a point in the first nine playoff games.
  • Hope Smoke: Ray Ferraro: “They didn’t schedule the games to put the screws to one team or another. The problem for the Rangers is their building” … “MSG is one of the busiest arenas in the world. You’re punching the wind here because it all comes down to arena availability”
  • Jim Diamond: Predators GM David Poile said that Peter Laviolette had scouted the Predators quite a bit and thinks that some of their forwards just need another chance.
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: The Wild want to host a Winter Classic, and would like to play the Blackhawks at Target Field. The NHL is pushing for the Stars and not Blackhawks.