This is going to be quick, partially because my apartment is cold and it’s hard to type with cold fingers.

• Leino’s back to the press box and May will be playing on the 4th line.
• Pav and Z will continue to play together, and I can only hope that playing with his Eurotwin will light a fire under Pavel’s ass.  I don’t know what his deal is this season.  He’s playing more of the assists role again, and he’s still playing defensive hockey so it’s not like he’s contributing, but I’d like to see him well, care a bit more.
• Howard’s back in net again after a 51 save performance for his 8th straight start.  Can he keep it up, or will he start to show exhaustion?
• And a quick note on the Osgood/Howard starter argument: it’s a two goalie system, clearly Howard’s the starter for now.  But come the playoffs, Osgood’s veteran experience and past proven track record will get him the nod.  But he’ll have a short leash, and Babcock won’t hesitate to pull like him Hasek in 2008.
• The defensive efforts let up 52 SOG against the Kings.  If that happens against the Sharks, they’re dead.  It cannot happen.
• McCosky seems to think that the Power Play might be on its way to producing again.  Looks like Helm may be getting time on the 2nd unit.
• The Sharks’ top line of Thornton-Marleau-Heatly is pretty scary, and they will all be playing for Babcock on the Canadian Olympic team.  To state the obvious, the key will be to shut them down.
• This is another must-win to keep climbing in the standings narrow the gap between 9th and 8th.

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