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Wayne Simmonds back at Flyers practice; Bruins vs. Habs (Puck Previews)

Sean Leahy
·Contributing writer

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Preview: Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m. ET The Bruins have won four straight against the Canadiens, but will have to go for No. 5 without Brad Marchand, who will miss tonight's game with an upper-body injury suffered during a fall against Toronto on Saturday. There's a good chance Tomas Kaberle will be a healthy scratch for the Canadiens.

Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m ET The Ducks hit the road for a six-game road trip hoping to extend their current three-game win streak. Red-hot Viktor Fasth is expected to be in net for the Ducks. The 30-year old Swede has won his first three NHL starts and posted a .946 save percentage so far. (Can you save goaltender controversy?) David Jones and Erik Johnson will return to the lineup for the Avs.

Preview: Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. ET The biggest news heading into this game is Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski being a healthy scratch and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will sit with an injury. For Goligoski, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said, "Alex needs to get back to Alex’s level. It’s pretty cut and dried." Rookie Mark Arcobello will play between Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page. For tonight's starting goalies, check out Goalie Post.

Evening Reading

• Jay Beagle of the Washington Capitals on figuring out the team's woes of late: “I don’t know if we have to sacrifice a cow or something. I don’t know what we have to do.” [CSN Washington]

• A third referee? Positioned in the press box to review all controversial calls? What say you? [ESPN]

• Good news: Wayne Simmonds rejoined his Flyers teammates at practice on Wednesday. He received a text message apology from John Erskine and wasn't upset with the play: "You can’t be mad at him for it. It’s not really a big deal to me, it’s a hockey play.” [Seravalli]

• Talks between the Avs and Ryan O'Reilly continue. [Denver Post]

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Tim S. doesn't want to see the NHL reveal referee punishments:

"I don't see the purpose of putting more spotlight on the refs. Let their "punishments" be private, and let them keep doing their jobs. If they're publicly shamed for missed calls, the players and coaches will have that much more reason to lose respect for them, and the loss of respect will be legitimized. Legitimized disrespect of the referees would be bad, bad news."

Bold Prediction: Viktor Fasth notches his first shutout. 3-0 Ducks win.