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PHT Morning Skate: Where first Vancouver riot trial has begun

APTOPIX Stanley Cup Vancouver Scene Hockey

Vancouver Canucks hockey fans take part in a riot in downtown Vancouver, Canada, Wednesday, June 15, 2011, following the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in game 7 of the Stanley Cup hockey final. Angry, drunken revelers ran wild Wednesday night after their team’s loss, setting cars and garbage cans ablaze, smashing windows, showering giant TV screens with beer bottles and dancing atop overturned vehicles. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

AP

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

The Detroit Red Wings might finally rest goaltender Jimmy Howard this week. However, it’s not clear if Jonas Gustavsson (groin), Joey MacDonald (back), or recently promoted 20-year-old netminder Petr Mrazek will get the nod. If Gustavsson and MacDonald aren’t healthy in time, then it looks like Mrazek will make his NHL debut this weekend. (Detroit News)

The Edmonton Oilers line of Sam Gagner, Nail Yakupov, and Ales Hemsky has been a huge part of their offense this season. 23-year-old Gagner in particular has excelled with three goals and 10 points in nine games this season. (Edmonton Sun)

21-year-old forward Chris Kreider is close to returning from an ankle injury, but he might not be in the New York Rangers’ lineup when he’s healthy. (The Bergen Record)

The first trial regarding Vancouver’s 2011 Stanley Cup riot has begun. Spencer Kirkwood has pleaded not guilty, claiming that he has no memory of participating in the riot, despite there allegedly being video footage of him smashing a downtown office building’s window with a street barricade. (CBC)

Stars goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp has been activated from the injured reserve list and sent to the minors. That solidifies Richard Bachman’s place as Dallas’ backup goaltender for now. (Sportsnet)

Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (lower body) will be absent for a third consecutive game Tuesday, but he’s not likely to miss “weeks,” according to Winnipeg Jets coach Claude Noel. (Winnipeg Sun)

Boston Bruins forward Daniel Paille (eye) might be back on Wednesday. (CSN New England)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney isn’t happy with the decision to make him a healthy scratch on Monday, but he knows he can play better. Oilers coach Ralph Krueger suggested that this is an opportunity for him to take a step back and “come back even stronger.” (Edmonton Sun)