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Around the rink - February 9; Habs visit Boston, Preds and Wings clash

Todd Bertuzzi, Pekka Rinne

Detroit Red Wings right wing Todd Bertuzzi (44) fights to take a shot on Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

AP

7:00 p.m.

Montreal @ Boston

These Original Six teams renew an age old rivalry and this time the Habs have a chance to get even with the Bruins for first in the Northeast Division with a win in regulation. The Bruins are slumping a bit of late and the Habs have been playing strong meaning that this game will be about as feisty as every other one involving these two. For the Canadiens, serving notice to Boston that they’ve got company in a race for the division title could be the sort of motivation they both need to play their best hockey. How the Bruins cope mentally with the loss of Marc Savard for the season will be important.

San Jose @ Columbus

The Sharks are on fire going 8-0-1 in their last nine games and going up a motivated Columbus team coming off a big win for them over a depleted Penguins squad. For the Jackets, it was their third win in a row and while their streak isn’t as impressive as San Jose’s, they’re playing good hockey of late. How the goaltending holds up in this game will be the real test as both teams are on the back end of back-to-back games.

7:30 p.m.

Nashville @ Detroit

An important battle in the race for supremacy in the Central Division. Detroit is hoping to keep Nashville at bay while the Predators would like to do what they did over the weekend in shutting out the Wings. One difference in this one should be that the Wings won’t have Joey MacDonald in goal this time around and Jimmy Howard will get a chance to play as strong as he did on Monday against the Rangers. Meanwhile, the Predators are looking to forget about being shutout by the Oilers 4-0 on Monday night. Detroit holds a seven point lead on Nashville for now. A Wings win would be a tough psychological blow to the Predators as they’ve been playing hard of late.

8:00 p.m.

Colorado @ Minnesota

And so they meet again. Last week saw the Wild edge the Avalanche 4-3 and the Wild will be hoping that home ice is good to them. These two teams have split their four games so far this season. The Wild have won six of their last eight games and have jumped three points ahead of the Avs in the standings. The Avs have lost six of their last seven games and are in the middle of a four game road swing. A win would give them a lift as they head to Nashville and Columbus after this game.

8:30 p.m.

Phoenix @ Dallas

It the Stars aren’t careful they’ll find their lead in the Pacific Division has totally disappeared after this game. The Coyotes are just two points behind Dallas in the division and the Stars are spiraling out of control of late losing five of their last six games. Phoenix has won their last two games heading into this one and the difference between these two of late is goaltending. Ilya Bryzgalov earned shutouts in their last two games while the combination of Kari Lehtonen and Andrew Raycroft has been poor.

9:30 p.m.

Ottawa @ Calgary

The Flames hope to keep the good times rolling against Ottawa. The Senators are hoping the Flames from the start of the season show up for this one as they look to snap their 10-game losing streak. With the Flames playing tough hockey of late that makes for a tall order for the Sens. With both Brian Elliott and Robin Lehner unable to make the stops they need to win, expect Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla to shine.

Chicago @ Edmonton

With the Blackhawks being frustrated and slipping back in the West, you’d think that facing the worst team in the conference would be the way to go. You’d be wrong though as the Oilers have done well against the Hawks this year going 2-1-0 with them. Luckily for Chicago this is the last time they’ll have to see the Oilers. The Oilers will be hoping that Devan Dubnyk stays hot after shutting out Nashville on Monday. If the Blackhawks can’t put their inner squabbles behind them against the West’s worst team, perhaps things in the Windy City aren’t as peachy when defending a title.

10:00 p.m.

Anaheim @ Vancouver

The Canucks roll through the West has been something else to watch. Their ability to play top-level hockey and not showing the mental breakdowns of the past has been impressive. They take a six game win streak into tonight’s game with Anaheim which sees the Ducks come in winners of three of their last four games. Curtis McElhinney will have to do his part to hold off the Canucks and if he wanted to show Ducks management why he should stick around instead of bringing in Ray Emery, stuffing Vancouver on their ice would do the trick.