News

• The Windy City blows no challenge for Winter Classic
  Those capricious winds at Wrigley Field that make baseballs do crazy things could be a factor on New Year’s Day when hockey takes over the home of the Chicago Cubs.  But when the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings meet on a rink that will stretch from first to third base, neither team will have an advantage in the third period—even if it’s a blustery and cold day.  That’s because they’ll switch sides in the middle of the final period, NBC coordinating producer Sam Flood said Monday during a conference call promoting the network’s coverage of the Winter Classic.  (The Full Story on Yahoo)
• Lemieux starts the long road back
  You could call Claude Lemieux “the Comeback Kid.” Except that at his age, he’s no kid. And as for the comeback part, now that’s where it gets interesting.  Five years after hanging up his skates for good – or so he thought at the time – the feisty (some prefer to call him dirty) Lemieux is back in the game he loves, but hasn’t always loved him back.  (The Full Story on Yahoo)

Suspensions:

• None
  

Trades & Transactions:

• None

Injuries:

• Marian Gaborik (RW – Wild) Hopes to return Wednesday.
• Carey Price (G – Canadiens) Could be out til after Christmas.
• Craig Rivet (D – Sabres) Out 2 weeks after shoulder surgery.
• Roberto Luongo (G – Canucks) No time frame for return.

Rumours & Gossip (from spectorshockey.net):

• Bob McKenzie reports barring the unforeseen Mats Sundin’s choices are now down to the Vancouver Canucks and NY Rangers.
• Michael Russo reported on the possibility something could be brewing between the Wild and Atlatna Thrashers. “I was told two days ago from a source of mine in the league that the two teams were talking trade. Then, all of a sudden, Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell appears and attends both Wild games in California. And during the first intermission, Waddell and Wild GM Doug Risebrough looked to be having a serious conversation”, reports Russo.
• Aaron Portzline reports the Blue Jackets have placed goalie Fredrik Norrena on waivers but it remains to be seen whether they’ll try to demote him if he clears waivers on Tuesday since he’s already refused to accept a conditioning stint in the minors.
• (Read more at spectorshockey.net)

Scores:

• Colorado 3 – 2 Detroit
• San Jose 3 – 2 Los Angeles (Shootout)

Source: NHL.com, Yahoo! Sports, TSN