Afternoon notes: Ovechkin, Kulikov, MacArthur, Hurricanes, Bergeron, Connolly … Sabres, Flames and Isles lines … Starting goalies
  • Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said that Chad LaRose will be out for 7-10 days due to a cut. Defenseman Joni Pitkanen (concussion and knee surgery) is likely out until the beginning of March. Rutherford said that Pitkanen’s injury status won’t inhibit any potential trade. He added that he’s not making calls and pushing for trades. Rutherford added that he’s interested in hockey deals that make financial sense and not just looking to move UFAs.
  • Bob McKenzie via twitter: They don’t need to decide until the trade deadline, but McKenzie doesn’t think they’ll send Brent Connolly back to the WHL.
  • John Vogl via twitter: Sabres goalie Ryan Miller left practice early after taking a high slap shot from defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. Mike Morreale via twitter: Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff returns to the lineup tonight. Brad Boyes (flu) is practicing. John Vogl via twitter: Sabres lines: Vanek-Roy-Pominville, Leino-Boyes-Stafford, Gerbe-Hecht-Kaleta, Ellis-Adam-McCormick.
  • Roger Millions via twitter: Projected Flames lines: Comeau Jokinen Stempniak-Cammalleri Backlund Iginla-Tanguay Jones Kostopoulos-Morrison Horak Jackman. Projected defensive pairings and goalie: Butler – Bouwmeester, Giordano – Hannan, Brodie – Sarich … Kiprusoff.
  • Scott MacArthur via twitter: Islanders lines: Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Neilsen-Parenteau, Martin-Bailey-Rolston, Wallace-Pandolfo-Niederreiter. Defensive pairings: Streit-Jurcina, Hamonic-MacDonald, Eaton-Reese. G: Nabokov (Montoya backs up.)