Best of John Tortorella; Kings, Sharks meet for first time (Puck Previews)

Back by popular demand, 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: New York Rangers at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. ET. The first game for the Rangers since John Tortorella decided not to protect his players from criticism and say "we sucked." New York is 2-7-0 when Henrik Lundqvist allows more than two goals. The Jets are 3-0-1 in their last four.

Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET. Did the Toronto Star change its format to that of the Onion? Because this is an actual headline: “Sidney Crosby overshadowed by Pittsburgh Penguins linemate Chris Kunitz.” Ben Scrivens gets the nod for the Leafs.

Preview: Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET. Is the season on the line tonight for the Capitals? They’ve been outscored 13-3 during an 0-3-0 skid. Michal Neuvirth faces Dan Ellis, rather than Caps Killer Justin Peters.

Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET. Chicago has two wins over the Jackets this season, and have won 10 straight against Columbus. But the Jackets have an 8-game point streak – just 27 games behind the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers’ record.

Preview: New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET. The Bolts are without Vinny Lecavalier for an indefinite period with a lower body injury. This is the Islanders’ first trip to Tampa this season. Evgeni Nabokov gets the nod.

Preview: Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. ET. The Panthers start Scott Clemmensen and will try to get through a game without losing anyone for the season to injury. In case you were wondering what Shawn Thornton thought of Wes Welker leaving the Pats: “Maybe he needed a change. Maybe they needed a change. I have no idea what goes on behind closed doors, but I know it’s not going to be easy to fill those shoes.”

Preview: Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, 8 p.m. ET. The Wild have scored one power-play goal in five straight games and seven of eight. Ryan O’Byrne will be a healthy scratch, with Greg Zanon replacing him in the lineup.

Preview: Phoenix Coyotes at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. ET. Ken Hitchcock plays the hot hand, giving Jake Allen the start against the Coyotes. And oh hey look, Alex Steen is finally healthy, too! Meanwhile, the Coyotes and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are talking contract.

Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. ET. The Stars have won seven of the last eight meetings between these teams. No Jamie Benn for the Stars (injury). No Corey Perry for the Ducks (meanie).

Preview: Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. ET. The Canucks won the first matchup, 1-0, and tonight it’s a rematch of the goalies in that one: Pekka Rinne vs. Roberto Luongo.

Preview: Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET. The first meeting between these teams. Los Angeles is 11-4-0 since its last set of back-to-back defeats Feb. 7-10. San Jose enters on an 0-2-2 slide with a 4-8-6 mark since its seven-game win streak to start the season.

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.

Puck Daddy Reader Comment of the Day: Travis of the Cosmos, on the Syracuse Crunch's sexy billboard:

Bold Prediction: Feelin' a hat trick in the Sharks/Kings game. Feelin' it'll be Logan Couture.