The Kings signed NCAA offensive forward Ted Purcell yesterday. I don't anticipate any big numbers from him next year, but if he does well in the AHL I will be quick to stick him on my radar.

Interesting – Matt Carle scored the first goal in the series against Nashville and again in the series against Detroit. Mike Grier scored the second goal in the series against the Preds, and then did it again against the Wings.

Mark Bell will be back in the San Jose lineup. He will replace Joe Pavelski, who will be scratched. Bell practiced on a line with Marleau and Guerin yesterday.

Maxim Afinogenov did not play a single shift in the final 15 minutes of the contest last night. His butt was planted to the bench and Ruff was quoted as saying that he has been "struggling".

Patrik Elias said he'll return to the lineup after missing Game 1 with a flu bug. "I feel fine," Elias said. "Obviously I'm a little tired after four days of not skating. But I feel good enough to play now."

Niklas Kronwall is off crutches and is still eyeing a third-round return. Although my opinion is it will be  the third round of a golf tournament that the Red Wings will host after the Sharks dispatch them…

The player I put on your radar a few weeks ago – Cory Murphy – who signed with the Florida Panthers and could be one of their quarterbacks, you can get a preview of his ability. He is playing for Team Canada at the Worlds.

The Montreal Gazette: A report out of Russia indicates Alexander Perezhogin has signed a contract with Avangard Omsk for next season. The details are sketchy and it isn't known whether the contract binds him to the team or whether it contains an escape clause and he's using it as a bargaining ploy with the Habs.