Thursday Evening Hotlinks!

February 11, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Pelech (42) hits Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (7) at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

It’s Thursday!  Tomorrow, the Oilers begin a four game homestand in an effort to claw up the standings.  Detroit will be their first obstacle.

The Flames disposed of Detroit last night because of two words:  Jonas Gustavsson.

Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson  allowed five goals on 22 shots, while Miikka Kiprusoff turned aside 38 of 40 for Calgary.  This means that the Oilers will likely see their good buddy Jimmy Howard between the pipes tomorrow.

More on that when you wake up tomorrow.

Here’s what’s happening around the NHL today:

• The NHL Board of Governors has approved divisional realignment beginning next year.  What does it mean?  There will be four divisions instead of six, each team will face every team at least once home and away (Crosby!  Price!  Phaneuf!), and the Oilers have some new neighbours in their division.
• Ben Eager has cleared waivers and will be sent to Oklahoma City.
• ONE COMFORTABLE ENIGMA NHL.com’s Kurt Dusterberg reports Alexander Semin is doing A-OK in Carolina.  That’s funny, a lot of the talking heads told me that Semin is cancer.  Semin has 27 points (7-20-27) in 25 games, and the Hurricanes are in first place in the Southeast.
• Corey Perry will sit for the next four games after a dumb head shot on Minnesota’s Jason Zucker.  Rob Blake‘s delivery in that video is much more pronounced in relation to that of Brendan Shanahan.
• WOODGUY IS THE RIGHT GUY:  There’s some talk that the Oilers may be interested in the services of Columbus defenceman Jack Johnson.  Let’s hope it stays just that.  Talk.

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