Here’s Washington’s game highlights last night. Click Ovechkin’s overtime winner on the right with 11 ticks left. Look at that shot, how nothing’s happening and then, game over. The coolest part is how he shoots and celebrates in one motion.

FSN’s pregame question for its panel tonight should be: Who’s going to score the tying goal?

Because …

Bad news if you’re a Wild fan: Jarome Iginla made the Flames’ charter to Minneapolis last night from St. Louis. Hey, there was always an outside chance he’d miss the bus or something. But alas, Iginla is here, which means the Wild is already down 1-0.

I know Iginla made it because I walked past him as he entered the building, and he was as nice as ever, which is the worst kind news for the Wild. Probably has something to do with his four-point night last night. Oh, and the fact that Iginla’s in a good mood every time he faces the Wild for good reason.

Bad news 2: Miikka Kiprusoff is here as well.

Bad news 3: Dion Phaneuf already has his scowl on. I’m not kidding. It’s not just an on-ice persona with Phaneuf. It’s an all-day thing. I nearly ran head-on into the most intimidating defenseman in the West as we both turned the corner this morning. Even in a black pin-stripe suit and black top hat (not kidding), Phaneuf had this look on his face that said, “Watch it hockey writer or I’ll treat you like Sean Avery in a dark alley.”

The good news for the Wild, which as I predicted in my Monday game story would be out of the playoff top-eight by the time it next played, is Marian Gaborik is officially back. The Wild activated him this morning. And he’ll even get to dictate his ice time tonight. Took him eight years, but Jacques Lemaire told him before today’s skate that he needs to be communicative tonight. In other words, tell Jacques how he’s feeling, and if he’s feeling good, he’ll get more and more ice time.

I asked Gaborik if he gets to pick his linemates, too. Nope. He’ll start with Sheppard and Veilleux tonight. Incidentally, I’m pretty positive that was Gaborik’s line against Atlanta and Boston in his only two previous games this season.

Brent Burns moves back to defense, and Jacques still maintains that long-term he’d make a bigger impact on the lineup as a forward. I’m done arguing this point, but I will say this: I don’t think Burns will be playing wing in the 2010 Olympics for the country north of us.

Lemaire said the toughest move was removing Erik Reitz from the lineup. He adds a physical element that no other blue-liner adds in my humble opinion, but Reitz is the odd guy out. Although, even though Marc-Andre Bergeron leads the Wild’s blue-liners in points, he needs to improve his defensive game or I have a feeling who will be out if Lemaire suddenly wants to start playing Reitz.

Colton Gillies is the lone forward scratch.

I think I know what Owen Nolan’s injury is, but I’m not going to speculate because I’m not positive. But the former Flames forward said he’s “getting better everyday.” But he’s not even skating on his own yet, so he’ll be out most likely until after the Christmas break at least (that’s me talking, not the Wild).

OK, that’s it for now. “Russo Radio” comes again to KSTP (1500-a.m.) tonight at 6, so call in and take part.

By the way, the next two Russo Radio’s on KSTP after tonight take place on Tuesdays (Dec. 23 and Dec. 30).

That’s it for now. Remember, roster freeze begins Friday at midnight to Dec. 27 at midnight.

Here’s a look at the West All-Star tabulations so far:

XM  NHL All-Star Fan Balloting Presented by 2K Sports
                            Western Conference
                        (as of 12/17/08, 7 a.m. ET)
Forwards
Player                  Team        Votes
1. Patrick Kane            Chicago     341,242
2. Marian Hossa            Detroit           314,414
3. Ryan Getzlaf            Anaheim     309,127
4. Jarome Iginla           Calgary     306,053
5. Pavel Datsyuk           Detroit           299,121
6. Henrik Zetterberg Detroit           291,519
9. Mikko Koivu       Minnesota   144,102
16. Marian Gaborik    Minnesota   62,223

Defensemen
1. Nicklas Lidstrom  Detroit           437,108
2. Dion Phaneuf            Calgary     369,171
3. Brian Campbell    Chicago     284,663
4. Scott Niedermayer Anaheim     251,859
5. Chris Pronger           Anaheim     245,404

11. Brent Burns       Minnesota   77,018

Goaltenders
1. Roberto Luongo    Vancouver   369,386
2. J.S. Giguere            Anaheim     227,568
3. Evgeni Nabokov    San Jose    184,017

5. Niklas Backstrom  Minnesota   108,416

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am and is filed under Pregame skate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.