Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

PHT Morning Skate: MacKinnon shifts back to center to replace Duchene

Colorado Avalanche v Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 25: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 25, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Frederick Breedon

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 Colorado Avalanche have shifted Nathan MacKinnon back to his natural position of center so that he can replace the injured Matt Duchene on a line with Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn. (Denver Post)

Editor’s Note: Pro Hockey Talk’s partner FanDuel is hosting a $750 Fantasy Hockey league for Tuesday night’s NHL games. It’s just $10 to join and first prize is $200. Starts Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET. Here’s the FanDuel link.

Steve Downie isn’t experiencing concussion symptoms at this point, but he won’t play on Tuesday. (CSN Philly)

Back in New Jersey, defenseman Adam Larsson thinks his time in the minors did him some good. The highly regarded 21-year-old has had some difficulty establishing himself in the NHL and was once called “his own worst enemy sometimes” by AHL Albany coach Rick Kowalsky. (The Bergen Record)

Maple Leafs forward Dave Bolland spoke about the need to stay positive despite Toronto’s collapse, but the locker room atmosphere Monday morning suggested that his teammates are having trouble doing that after they all-but completely slipped out of contention for a playoff spot. (Ottawa Citizen)

James Sheppard admitted to be worried on Saturday when his left knee/leg collided violently with the boards. His NHL career had previously been put into jeopardy over a left knee injury, but fortunately his new ailment wasn’t significant. (CSN Bay Area)

With the season almost over and the Florida Panthers chances of making the playoffs long since dead, forward Brad Boyes is nevertheless frustrated by his team’s habit of being unprepared and falling behind early. Florida has been outscored 81-42 in the first period of games in 2013-14. (Miami Herald)

Speaking of which, here are the highlights from New Jersey’s 6-3 victory over Florida:

Follow @RyanDadoun