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Around the rink - Sunday, January 9th

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It’s Sunday so that means the schedule is a bit lighter than usual but not without intrigue. Take a look with us around the rink to see what’s in store tonight in the NHL, a schedule that includes the streaking Wild looking to win again. All times Eastern, as per usual.

1:30 p.m.

Atlanta @ Carolina

Atlanta would like to put every bit of their 9-3 loss to the Maple Leafs out of their minds and beating a Carolina team sneaking up on them in the standings would help that out. The Canes are just six points behind Atlanta in the Southeast Division and a win would send the message that they’re as much of a threat as the Thrashers are. The Hurricanes will be banking on Cam Ward and Eric Staal to carry the load for them much in the same way the Thrashers ask Ondrej Pavelec and Dustin Byfuglien to do the same for them. Either way, it’s got the makings of a great early-afternoon tilt.

5:00 p.m.

Tampa Bay @ New Jersey

The Lightning are coming off a lackluster win over Ottawa last night and getting one over on the hapless Devils would go a ways towards helping Tampa Bay get past some woes they’ve had in beating teams they ought to. As for the Devils, you have to think that Martin Brodeur will get a shot to win after he took over for Johan Hedberg yesterday afternoon in the first period. The Devils have lost four straight and their miserable season trudges along regardless of who is in goal.

6:00 p.m.

Dallas @ Minnesota

Don’t look now but the Minnesota Wild are a playoff team. The Wild are seventh in the Western Conference at the moment and have Jose Theodore to thank for that. After Theodore’s efforts against both Boston and Pittsburgh, the Wild have jumped up into playoff position in the West. Getting timely goals from Martin Havlat and Cal Clutterbuck have helped the cause as well. Dallas, meanwhile, wants to shake off a shootout loss to the Rangers and hold strong to their spot atop the Pacific Division. Beating what’s been a tough Wild team would make for a good confidence booster.

7:00 p.m.

NY Islanders @ Chicago

We’re not sure how the Islanders have been doing it, but they’re winning games. They’ll head to Chicago after a tough overtime win over Colorado and winners of four of their last five games. Chicago would like to just start showing the ability to win consistently. The Islanders roll into the game with numerous injuries but with young goalies Nathan Lawson and Kevin Poulin you’d like to think they don’t have much of a shot. Then again, Corey Crawford has come out of obscurity to be the Blackhawks top netminder. All of a sudden, it doesn’t look to be as big of a mismatch after all.

8:00 p.m.

San Jose @ Anaheim

The Sharks could use a win in the worst way. They’ve been ravaged by inconsistent play and are coming off a tough loss to Nashville last night. Meanwhile, Jonas Hiller and the Ducks have been a fly in the ointment to virtually every team they’ve encountered this season. On paper, the Ducks look like a team that shouldn’t win as often as they do, yet there they are near the top of the Pacific Division. The Ducks are winners of four of their last five games going into this intra-California affair.